The true horror of nuclear war isn't the initial blast but the complete breakdown of society. With no government, law, or resources, survivors face a primal, violent struggle for existence amidst sickness and malnourishment, making immediate death a preferable fate.
The popular scenario of an AI taking control of nuclear arsenals is less plausible than imagined. Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3) systems are profoundly classified and intentionally analog, precisely to prevent the kind of digital takeover an AI would require.
The immediate aftermath of a nuclear strike isn't just a blast. It's a thermonuclear flash creating a massive firestorm, a bulldozing wind effect that levels buildings, and intense radiation, followed by a conflagration of mega-fires from thousands of simultaneous strikes.
Contrary to fears of digital takeover, the US submarine-launched ballistic missile system is deliberately analog. Its primary navigation method is "star sighting"—an ancient technique—making it resilient to hacking and external digital control, a fusion of primitive and advanced technology for ultimate security.
President Ronald Reagan, a nuclear hawk, dramatically changed his position on nuclear weapons after viewing the TV movie "The Day After." The film's depiction of nuclear war's horror "greatly depressed" him, leading directly to the Reykjavik Summit with Gorbachev and significant disarmament treaties.
In a nuclear winter scenario, soot would block the sun, causing global agricultural failure. Climate models from Professor Brian Toon indicate that only Australia and New Zealand would likely remain capable of sustaining agriculture, making them the only viable locations for long-term survival.