The scenario sounds like a plot to a bad movie. There is some mad scientist trying to destroy the United States. He hopes to use a nuclear bomb to set off the supervolcano under Yellowstone. It sounds like fiction, but some people have considered it.

A Russian science advisor said nuking Yellowstone could be a catalyst to ignite the supervolcano. Business Insider reported on it in 2015. A UK tabloid, the Star Daily, reported that Kim Jong-un of North Korea is considering the same plan. It is also important to note that the Star Daily is not the most reputable news source. But would it work? Could a nuke set off a chain reaction that would cause an apocalyptic event?

We are not scientists, but the evidence suggests it isn't possible. According to the studies, it is very unlikely that a bomb could set off any volcanic eruption. In a story from IFLScince.com, they give an insightful analysis of this question:

At no point in human history has anyone been mad enough to try this, but all the current evidence suggests that, when it comes to something like Yellowstone, it would be like firing an air rifle at a tank.

In the video from The Infographics Show, they come to the same conclusion. They take it a step further asking if the bomb somehow detonated inside of the magma chamber. This could cause a volcanic eruption. It is also purely theoretical. Think about it, these magma chambers are 3-10 miles below the earth's surface, according to the USGS. The Mponeng Gold Mine in South Africa is the deepest mine in the world. That mine doesn't even reach those depths.

Living in Wyoming we don't need to add this to the worries in our head. We can just worry about normal nuclear holocaust and normal supervolcano eruptions. The mad scientist scenario although is possible, is not very probable.

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