Plutonium in nukes found to last longer
The plutonium in nuclear warheads will be reliable for as long as 100 years, twice as long as previously thought, according to a study released Wednesday, raising questions by some critics over the need to replace aging weapons.
The five-year government study involving all the warheads in the nuclear stockpile concluded that the plutonium pits -- used to trigger a nuclear explosion -- degrade at a much slower rate than previously believed.
The U.S. has long assumed plutonium could not be relied upon in 45 to 60 years.
Some weapons watchdogs said the new finding undermines the Bush administration’s plan to build a factory to make new plutonium pits and its program to replace current warheads.
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