TRUE

That's true! Modern nuclear weapons are indeed often referred to as thermonuclear weapons or hydrogen bombs 2 3. These terms describe a specific and advanced type of nuclear weapon 3 8. Unlike the earlier atomic bombs which rely on nuclear fission, or the splitting of heavy atoms 3 10, thermonuclear weapons generate energy primarily through nuclear fusion reactions 2 3. This process involves mushing two light elements together 3, specifically isotopes of hydrogen like deuterium and tritium 10. Scientists recognized early on that such fusion weapons could be even more powerful bombs 8. These fusion weapons are also colloquially known as hydrogen bombs or H-bombs 2 3. The terms thermonuclear warhead and nuclear warhead are sometimes used interchangeably 7. While other classifications exist, such as strategic or non-strategic weapons 13, the names thermonuclear weapon and hydrogen bomb are widely used to identify this distinct and powerful class of nuclear armaments 2 9.