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Genetic weapons -

Genetic weapons are the next level of biological weapons. These can be developed to target people with specific genetic traits.

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Genetic weapons -

Scientists have managed to map the human genome in a way that it's possible to identify certain genes that are specific to an ethnic group. This capability of identifying specific genes potentially allows for RNA (ribonucleic acid) interference, and can be used as a weapon.

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Genetic weapons -

RNA interference means that genetic weapons can be used to shut down specific genes inherent to a specific population.

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High-powered microwave -

No, it's not a super kitchen appliance. This actually already exists: it's a directed-energy weapon called PHASER. This is essentially a high-powered microwave cannon that emits radio frequencies in a conical beam.

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High-powered microwave -

Don Sullivan, Raytheon missile systems' chief technologist for directed energy, explains how it works: "It's not a thermal effect, it's an electric field effect that is basically imposed on the electronics to either upset or permanently damage them, and the effect is essentially instantaneous."

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High-powered microwave -

While this technology has only been used defensively, to disable enemy drones, it can potentially be scalable. Imagine how much damage it could do on a mass scale, affecting entire cities and military targets with just a few bursts shot from a plane.

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Directed energy -

Like PHASER, there are other directed-energy weapons being developed by several governments around the world. One of its advantages over traditional munition is that, unlike a missile for instance, that has to travel a distance, these are almost immediate. 

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Directed energy - Targets can also be hit more precisely and the weapons are a lot more cost-efficient, as they are powered by electricity.

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Directed energy -

In 2020, the United States Army announced their new prototype: the Indirect Fire Protection Capability High Energy Laser, which is up to 10 times more powerful than the Laser Weapon System used by the Navy.

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Hypersonic kinetic energy -

The Outer Space Treaty was signed by over 100 countries in 1967. All nations agreed not to use  weapons of mass destruction from outer space, including nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Though the use of hypersonic kinetic energy is not covered.

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Hypersonic kinetic energy -

Project Thor, also known as "Rods from God," takes this to another level: by dropping tungsten rods from space. Reaching 10 times the speed of sound, these would cause substantial damage once they hit Earth.

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Hypersonic kinetic energy -

The concept of kinetic bombardment, or kinetic orbital strike, is based in the "Lazy Dog" bombs used during the Vietnam War, which didn't include explosives. Instead, they were dropped from planes, gained speed, and caused damage once they hit the ground.

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Geophysical weapons -

It's no secret that numerous experiments have been made to interfere with the weather. The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) military facility in Alaska, for instance, has been the subject of much speculation by conspiracy theorists.

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Geophysical weapons -

Weaponizing the weather would indeed be powerful stuff. And while HAARP might not be doing it, some countries, such as China, have been successful in manipulating the weather through the use of techniques such as 'cloud seeding.'

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Geophysical weapons -

There is no evidence that geophysical weapons will be developed in the future. Nonetheless, can meteorological events be triggered artificially at a specific location to cause damage? Perhaps.

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Antimatter weapons -

Antimatter is composed of particles that are the opposite in electric charge and magnetic moment. An example would be an electron with a negative charge and a positron with a positive charge.

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Antimatter weapons -

Antimatter is produced when cosmic rays hit the Earth’s atmosphere, through thunderstorms, and artificially, such as in the Large Hadron Collider.

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Antimatter weapons -

The (destructive) magic happens when matter and antimatter collide. How destructive? Well, it can produce 1,000 times more energy than nuclear fission. Though, due to the constraints in producing and storing antimatter, weaponization is still very unlikely today. Still, it may well be possible in the future.

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Cyber weapons -

Cyber warfare is nothing new, and it has endless destructive potential. The world is currently managed through computers, from military systems to an entire country's power grid.

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Cyber weapons -

An attack can destroy an entire nation from within. Affecting the power grid and financial system could cause unimaginable damage.

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Isomer bombs -

These bombs would be made of isomers, which are atomic nuclei that have different radioactive properties when compared to a 'regular' atomic bomb. These could be made with the nuclear isomer of hafnium.

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Isomer bombs -

For the sake of comparison, 1 gram of hafnium contains the equivalent energy of 660 pounds (299 kg) of TNT.

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Isomer bombs -

Causing an isomer reaction has not been proven possible so far, but it's said that research has continued, namely by Russia.

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Psychotronic weapons -

If you thought destroying stuff and manipulating the weather was bad, wait until you learn more about how psychotronic weapons can manipulate the minds of the enemy!

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Psychotronic weapons -

Microwave devices can potentially be used to cause brain injuries. Sounds can be beamed directly into one’s head, and the person can hear noises that sound natural, but are actually coming from inside. These effects can be very  painful and debilitating.

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Psychotronic weapons -

Back in 2018, American diplomats in Cuba suffered unexplained brain injuries. Research into it concluded that, indeed, psychotronic weapons may have been used.

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AI drones -

Drones have been used for a long time. But what if instead of a person programming and controlling the machine, it gets powered by a AI neuromorphic chip?

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AI drones -

Can an AI-operated drone distinguish friend from foe effectively at all times? Could these machines attack their own creators and allies?

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AI drones -

These are all viable threats. These drones are capable of carrying out attacks of epic proportions without sacrificing humans in the operations, and that alone can make them extremely dangerous.

Sources: (Wired) (The New Yorker) (The Guardian) (Popular Mechanics)

See also: The world's most powerful nuclear nations

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