ScienceJuly 17, 2026
detonation
/ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/
Definition
The act of causing an explosive device, particularly a nuclear weapon, to explode.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'detonare,' meaning 'to thunder down' or 'to thunder out,' which combines 'de-' (down) and 'tonare' (to thunder). It entered English in the late 18th century to describe the sudden, loud release of energy.
In the news
The article uses the word to warn that a nuclear explosion in space would be catastrophic, potentially destroying satellites and making orbits unusable for years.
The International Space Station loses about 100 meters of altitude a day and must be shoved back up by a docked Russian thruster roughly once a month to keep from falling
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com