this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2025
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Science Memes

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[โ€“] Egonallanon@feddit.uk 5 points 5 hours ago (3 children)

If you're adding a proton wouldn't it be fusion? Which also releases a bucket load of energy.

[โ€“] SmoothOperator@lemmy.world 8 points 4 hours ago

The largest amount of energy is released from fusing two hydrogens into helium. The atom in the comic looks much heavier than hydrogen.

Also a chain fusion reaction is required for an explosion. The comic just shows non-explosive ionisation.

[โ€“] ryannathans@aussie.zone 5 points 4 hours ago

It looks like a heavy element so fusion would be net negative energy

[โ€“] zxqwas@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago

Possibly but the common fusions are using isotopes of H, He, Li with some amount of neutrons, not naked protons.

Heavier elements as the big blob is releases a lot less energy, and the really heavy ones are not exothermic.