A chilling new simulation illustrates the potentially devastating global consequences of a nuclear war between the United States and Russia, modeling what such a conflict could look like in scientifically realistic detail.
The video, which has gained attention since being posted on YouTube, explores the chain of events that could follow a full-scale nuclear exchange, including immediate destruction, long-term environmental fallout, and global food insecurity.
According to the Future of Life Institute, the simulation is based on “detailed modeling of nuclear targets, missile trajectories, and the effects of blasts, electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), and atmospheric smoke on the climate and agricultural systems".
Tensions between nuclear-armed nations, including rising hostilities involving Russia, have prompted renewed public concern over the risk of a large-scale nuclear conflict. The simulation aims to visualize the scale of destruction that could follow such an event.
In the simulated scenario, the conflict begins when one side launches nuclear missiles, which are quickly detected by the opposing side’s early warning systems. That detection triggers a retaliatory strike before the first wave even lands.
“U.S. submarine-launched ballistic missiles from west of Norway begin hitting Russian targets after about 10 minutes,” the video explains, “while Russian missiles launched from north of Canada strike the U.S. a few minutes later.”
Each detonation produces a fireball “about as hot as the core of the sun,” accompanied by a radioactive mushroom cloud. The initial impact would vaporize people and infrastructure within close range, while intense heat and light could cause severe burns and temporary blindness even miles away.
A powerful blast wave follows, collapsing buildings and generating widespread firestorms.
Beyond the immediate destruction, the simulation outlines the onset of a nuclear winter – a period of prolonged cold and darkness caused by massive amounts of soot and smoke entering the atmosphere. These particulates, lofted by widespread fires, would block sunlight and drastically lower global temperatures.
According to scientific estimates cited in the simulation, such climate disruption would significantly reduce global food production. A recent peer-reviewed study predicts that more than five billion people could die from starvation in the aftermath, with regions such as the United States, Europe, Russia, and China suffering near-total population losses due to food scarcity.
The simulation has prompted a range of responses online. One YouTube user wrote: “This is one of those things that seem to be from a horror movie, but are made spine-chilling by the fact that it is all 100% true.”
Another viewer remarked: “It's not war, it's absolute annihilation,” while others called for greater public awareness and policy action to reduce the risk of nuclear escalation.
Some online commenters also pointed to historical warnings, including Albert Einstein’s often-cited quote: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
The Future of Life Institute, which focuses on reducing large-scale risks to humanity, said the simulation is meant to provoke serious reflection about the consequences of nuclear conflict and the importance of diplomatic and technological safeguards.
And finally, let's all remember that nuclear war is a highly unliklely scenario... and let's all just hope this simulation remains just that; a simulation.