When the world was first introduced to nuclear energy with the arrival of nuclear weapons, it was immediately apparent that the splitting of the atom was going to usher in a revolution in energy. As such, scientists were keen to find new ways that they could harness the potential for both military and civilian purposes. But not all of them were good ideas. In fact, after going through this list, we’re sure you’ll agree that some of these nuclear notions were just downright nuts.
9. The Nuclear Rifle
Nicknamed the Davey Crocket and developed in the ’60s during the Cold War, the M65 recoilless rifle looked much more like a bazooka than an actual rifle. It was typically mounted on a tripod or Jeep and could launch a 51 pound nuclear warhead at a target located up to three miles away. But, as it turned out, three miles just wasn’t far enough to escape the radioactive cloud produced by the payload’s detonation. Meaning, if the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, your forces would end up getting irradiated by the fallout. Thus, the age of portable nuclear warfare came to an abrupt end.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device) Source: En.wikipedia.org