Radiation and (electromagnetic) waves are not directly perceived. Thus they have something mysterious. Their effects are to a large extent, especially in the long term, unknown and misunderstood. Any risks are regularly in the news, with a joust of pro and con. If there happens to research, the result shows obviously mostly in the direction that best suits the client. And let those who have money to do research, just now usually be the ones making money on the technology.
Harmful consequences have therefore to be shown very clearly before it may be stated overtly that there is danger.

The asbestos and tobacco industries for decades in the same way earned money at the expense of our health. And the government, including politicians, have profited from it.

Sometimes effects are only after 10, 15 years clear, or until the next generation visible.
On a few risks, there is limited consensus:
Do not hold the mobile phone in less than 15 cm from a pacemaker
Do not use a mobile phone in the vicinity of critical equipment in hospitals (such as operating room, Neonatal, intensive care)
The use of wireless connections was around 2002 banned in taking off and landing aircrafts.

Techniques and insights are changing fast.

Other sources on which is blown regular then cold, then hot is microwave ovens, fluorescent lights, mobile phones, mobile phone masts, power lines, sunbeds (tanning bed), nonstick pans...

It happens that a wristwatch falters close to an electric motor. Data on bank cards (or floppy disks, but who uses that anymore?) can be deleted or damaged in a magnetic field.
Thus, there is impact, even without contact.

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a short-lived but intense electromagnetic phenomenon by, for example, the discharge of a large capacitor via a coil.
It was given a new meaning after 1962, when the first atomic bomb test explosions occurred high above the atmosphere.

The crippling electrical storm

On Sunday, July 9th, 1962 at 11 o'clock with the explosion codenamed Starfish Prime were happening at 1,300 km to the east in Hawaii strange things. Street lights and electrical fuses broke on Oahu, telephone connections were broken on Kauai and some cars just halted.
In 1965 was published that had to do with this EMP. Especially transistors appear to be extremely vulnerable to the EMP.
Gamma radiation from a nuclear explosion above the atmosphere acts on free electrons in the high layers of the atmosphere, which electric currents are then guided through the earth's magnetic field. The magnetic field of the electric current induces voltage in circuits. Much longer the cables, the more amps are rushed, also to underground located electr (on) ic components. Both those occurring voltage as the current that occurs, can cause damage.

The flash itself was fairly harmless. The EMP you can feel as a shock when you touch a large metal object during the explosion.
 
Today, the effect is much more drastic because electronics is highly miniaturized (with gossamer wiring and very thin intermediate insulation) and because many more is electronically controlled: elevators, airplanes, ships, power plants, hospital equipment, radar and electronic warfare equipment, satellite, microwave, UHF, VHF, HF and low band communications equipment and television equipment, engines and ignition, traffic lights, but also wires in buildings (train) tracks and metal fencing etc. are susceptible to EMP.

Even with a current limiter, a local lightning through all conductors, can cause enormous damage to equipment. EMP can cause even worse destruction.
An explosion at 400 km altitude affects almost the entire area of ​​the U.S..

We are still working on security methods, which are still very expensive now. Basically protection of equipment against short EMP is simple: completely enveloping the equipment with a grounded steel, tin or copper box (Faraday cage) (iron has magnetic permeability).
Cable networks are much more difficult. In the kilometers wide loops EMP creates immense tension.

An old-fashioned tube radio with vacuum tubes and diodes filament is more robust and more resistant to EMP than (micro) transistors.

The most vulnerable elements and circuits can be replaced by (to design) more solid elements that can withstand much higher currents. They are less vulnerable, but still very unpredictable.

From epiphenomenon to weaponisation

The non- lethal nature of EMP made ​​it politically interesting. There were made not nuclear EMP weapons for defeat without losing (an enemy, or even their own) lifes.
Specially were non-nuclear, electromagnetic, or E - bombs made ​​to knock electronic devices and communications off.

An EMP shock wave can be produced by a device that is small enough to place into a briefcase. Perhaps it can now also simply remotely, e.g. by HAARP.


Maybe the nuclear ambitions of a few rogue concerns the U.S. mainly because of the EMP.

(To an article from June 2011)

North Korea has miniaturized its nuclear warheads so they can be carried by ballistic missiles.
In recent tests, conducted in May 2009, there was apparently a "super - EMP“ weapon, capable of emitting enough gamma rays to disable the majority of the U.S., from the electricity network says Dr. Peter Vincent Pry, a former CIA analyst of nuclear weapons.
The nuclear test by North Korea, was due to their low explosive yield dismissed as failure by some analysts. But Dr. Pry believes they have the characteristics of the Russian -designed “super - EMP“ weapon, capable of emitting more gamma radiation than a 25 - megaton nuclear weapon.
Such a weapon - the effect of which would be that of a massive solar flare such as the "solar maxima“ predicted by NASA for 2012 comparable - poses a substantial risk to the equipment and operation of the electric grid and under extreme circumstances lead to major and long-term electrical interference." said Joseph McClelland of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the Senate.

To protect the estimated 5,000 transformers in the country against the effects of an EMP is $ 1 billion needed.
President Obama's science advisor, John Holdren, warned of the catastrophic impact of a solar storm in the next 12 to 18 months.
“The impact can be huge - on the order of 2.000 billion dollars in the first year in the United States alone, with a recovery period of 4 to 10 years."

Tactical nuclear weapon: atomic bomb that says ‘excuse me’. (Batt)
The advantage of civil wars on foreign wars is that you can have breakfast at home. (Jean Galtier - Boissiere)