Nuclear Warfare has been in the back of our minds for years now. To say it’s a “chilling” topic would be an understatement. No thought a man could have is more troubling than the possibility of such destructive devastation unleashed upon our family, friends, and country.
Nuclear war refers to nuclear weapons being used to launch nuclear attacks in warfare. Nuclear weapons produce nuclear explosions which are the notoriously destructive occurrences ever made by mankind.
Knowing a thing or two about these kinds of weapons would do us good as part of the preparation process. So without further ado, here are 13 scary facts about nuclear war. The first one shocked me.
1. Burned Miles Away
The explosion from a nuclear bomb detonating is so strong and vast, that people as far as 10 miles away would receive second-degree burns. The explosion causes a 50% mortality rate from the heat generated from the shockwave in addition to a radiation dose of 400 rads.
2. 22 Seconds
The flash from the nuclear detonation lasts for 22 seconds.
3. 10 Minutes Of Fame
It takes 10 minutes for the mushroom to reach its full height
all explosives in ww2 wouldn’t have as much power as a single nuke
4. Broken Arrow
The term “broken arrow” used to define when a nuclear weapon is accidentally launched, fired, detonated, stolen or lost. 32 of these have occurred since 1950
5. Need For Speed
The detonation causes 405 MPH wind speeds within a 1-mile radius. Time to get that 1967 Shelby Mustang.
6. 14900 warheads
According to the NPT, they officially recognized five nuclear weapon countries for possessing nuclear bombs.
- China – 260
- France – 300
- Russia – 7000
- The UK – 215
- US – 6800
7. 70,300 Warheads in 1986
There were 70,300 warheads in 1986. In 2018, that number is down to 14485 warheads.
8. The Tzar Bomb
The largest bomb called the “Tsar bomb” by the soviet union.
9. Russia and America
93% of all warheads are owned by Russia and the US.
10. We’re Spending 97.4 Billion
The US plans to spend 97.4 billion on missile defenses. the planned spend on nuclear forces will exceed 390 billion between 2013 and 2022.
11. North Korea Bombs
North Korea has significantly increased the number of missile ballistic tests in the past 5 years.
12. How Many Detonations
Number of nuclear tests worldwide since 1945. 2046
13. Feet Underground To Survive
Since a nuclear bomb is overwhelmingly powerful, you have to be at least 3 feet deep underground in order to survive a nuclear bomb explosion.
14. Kilotons of Power
Nuclear explosions are measured by the amount of energy it produces in kilotons, also referred to as the “yield”. The measurement does not refer to the weight of the bomb itself, but rather the amount of energy the explosion produces.
15. Nuclear Fallout
The term Nuclear Fallout refers to an affect a nuclear explosion produces in the environment. The mushroom cloud that forms from the explosion produces dust and debris throughout the atmosphere along with radiation that fill the air for years into the future. The radiation from nuclear fallout could travel up to many miles away from the blast. The surrounding areas of nuclear testing remains a no-man zone for years into the future.
Conclusion
That concludes this list of nuclear war facts. Some of these I knew but a couple of them surprised me.
Nuclear warfare is a terrifying subject to dive into. Unfortunately, I think it’s important to educate yourself on this topic though. The affects from just a single nuclear weapon are catastrophic to the points of impact that spreads for many miles. The best way to prepare for a threat like this is to know well in advance before in order to give people adequate time to get as far away as possible.
With weapons that can cause this much destruction, even if the odds are less than slim to none of even a possibility of this type of attack. I’d say it’s worth preparing for.
