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Most common artificial explosives are chemical explosives, usually involving a rapid and violent oxidation reaction that produces large amounts of hot gas. Gunpowder was the first explosive to be discovered and put to use. Other notable early developments in chemical explosive technology were Abel's invention of nitrocellulose ( guncotton) in 1865 and Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamiteDynamite is an explosive used in mining, demolitions, and other applications. It was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1867, and rapidly gained popularity as a safer alternative to gunpowder, as dynamite will only explode if triggered by a proper blasting cap. (stabilized nitroglycerinNitroglycerin (also nitroglycerine trinitroglycerin or glyceryl trinitrate is a chemical compound, a heavy colorless poisonous oily explosive liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol. It is used in the manufacture of explosives, specifically dynamite, and as). See the article on explosive materialThis article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. There are many other varieties of more exotic explosive material, and theoretical methods of causing explosions such as nuclear explosives and antimatter, and other methods of producing explosions for more detail on chemical explosives. A new order of explosive, the nuclear bomb, was invented in 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II: by the United States military. In 1950Events January January 5 US Senator Estes Kefauver introduces a resolution calling for examination of organized crime in the USA January 6 The United Kingdom recognizes the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with, the US military developed the first fusion bomb. Boiling liquid expanding vapour explosionsBLEVE pronounced blevy is an acronym for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion . This is a type of explosion that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid is ruptured. Such explosions can be extremely hazardous. A BLEVE can occur in a v are a type of explosion that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid is ruptured, causing a rapid increase in volume as the liquid evaporates.

Explosions are common in nature. On Earth, most natural explosions arise from volcanic processes of various sorts. Explosive volcanic eruptions occur when magma rising from below has much dissolved gas in it; the reduction of pressure as the magma rises causes the gas to bubble out of solution, resulting in a rapid increase in volume. Explosions also occur as a result of Earth impacts. On other planets, vulcanism and impacts cause explosions with various frequency.

Among the largest known explosions in the universe are supernovae, which result from stars exploding, and gamma ray bursts, whose nature is still in some dispute.