Do we need a reliable replacement warhead or not?
Why do nuclear warheads degrade in the first place? As the plutonium pit ages, it slowly emits high-energy alpha particles that can damage the pit as they bore through nearby plutonium atoms. This could potentially cause the weapon to lose power or not detonate.
From the article:
O’Hanlon [...]

![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/gold/t24_au_en_usoz_2.gif)




