The scenario: you are working as chief scientist for a certain villain Dr K. J. (one has to make a living somehow). Your boss has acquired a nuclear device from opaque sources and wants to see if it works. Your task is to advise him on where to best do so, without the explosion being noticed. Choose carefully! Dr K. J. has a penchant for feeding underperforming employees to his pets.

Let’s see…how about somewhere deep in the vast oceans? That could be an idea, or not? Before you answer, better listen to Dr Georgios Haralabus, Head of the hydroacoustic engineering unit at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. CTBTO animation on hydroacoutic monitoring for nuclear explosions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFomVoL92oM What are the challenges involved in building and maintaining the CTBTO’s hydroacoustic network? Find out more about hydroacoustic monitoring (CTBTO). Scheme of a CTBTO hydroacoustic station. Image: CTBTO And check out the Baleakanta Project, which uses CTBTO hydroacoustic data to listen to and chart the paths of whales across the world’s oceans and seas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqCupB0KbY

But don’t let yourself get distracted: Dr K.J. is still waiting for an answer…

And his cat can smell your fear. So maybe somewhere in a remote desert? Come back later for part 2.

Can you help Dr Schmidt in his delicate position? Where would you conduct a secret nuclear test? Please post your answer as comment below.