21.   Some experts have said terrorists might try to make a radiological bomb by combining radioactive material, like spent nuclear fuel, with conventional explosives.

22.   Such a device would use conventional explosives to detonate radiological materials, such as spent reactor fuel rods, and spread radiation over a wide area.

23.   Such a bomb could consist of a conventional explosive surrounded by radioactive materials that are used in tens of thousands of industrial and medical devices in this country.

24.   Terrorists could spread radiation by attaching conventional explosives to the radioactive material or by assembling a crude nuclear device there.

25.   Such sensors could also help protect against so-called dirty bombs, in which a conventional explosive would be used to disperse radioactive material.

26.   The device would be detonated with conventional explosives.

27.   The explosion is so violent because oxidizing silicon releases a huge amount of energy compared with conventional explosives.

28.   The conventional explosives in a dirty bomb can kill people or destroy buildings in the immediate vicinity.

29.   A dirty bomb would use conventional explosives to spread radioactive materials, or spread covertly in the air, water or food.

30.   A payload of that size is large enough to carry nuclear and chemical weapons, as well as conventional explosives.