A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. These reactions produce enormous amounts of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The potential destructive power of nuclear weapons is unmatched, capable of causing mass destruction and massive casualties in a matter of seconds. The destructive effects of these weapons, often classified as weapons of mass destruction, are felt across not only geographical distances but also generations, due to the long-lasting effects of radiation and nuclear fallout.

See also: nuclear power, quantum mechanics, emergence, self-organization, flow state