The Nuke

Air sampling Radioxenon and other isotopes can reveal the type of fissile material and bomb design details,

Fallout

Forensics of a nuclear blast If an atomic bomb were to detonate in a U.S. city, nuclear sleuths would use a wide range of tools to puzzle out the nature of the bomb and who was responsible. Each weapon type has a distinct fingerprint encompassing the waveforms it emits and the fallout it unleashes. Electromagnetic pulse

Gamma rays

Ground sampling Fallout constituents and melt glass reveal bomb details and neutron energies.

Infrasound

Light

Nuclear terrorism The likeliest scenario is an atomic bomb set off on a city street.

NUKE BOMB

Pressure wave

Radiochemistry Fallout is a mélange of the vaporized environment-soil and structures that were near the blast-laced with fission products, radioisotopes made in the explosion., and residual nuclear material.

Remote sensing Dedicated military satellites are on a constant vigil for nuclear detonations.

Seismic waves

Sensor network The new Diet Oculus sensor array, which records emissions and other waveforms, is being deployed in major U.S. cities.