A nuclear warfare expert in the United States has stated that humanity is currently approaching the stage of a nuclear war outbreak. In the event of a nuclear war, 5 billion people around the world would die within 72 minutes. Survivors would have to seek refuge underground because the ozone layer would be destroyed, exposing people to harmful radiation from sunlight.
Annie Jacobsen, an American investigative journalist and bestselling author, who was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2016, recently released a new book in March titled “Nuclear War: A Scenario.”
Jacobsen spent years researching the potential outcomes of a nuclear war outbreak and interviewed former Secretary of Defense, former nuclear submarine commanders, and intelligence officers. According to her, these interviewees all emphasized that the threat of nuclear weapons has always existed.
During a recent interview on the podcast program “The Diary Of A CEO,” Jacobsen discussed that in the event of a nuclear war outbreak, 5 billion people worldwide could perish within 72 minutes.
She explained that a nuclear war would lead to thick smoke spreading worldwide, ultimately triggering a mini ice age. Most regions globally would be covered in ice, with places like Iowa in the United States and Ukraine experiencing snowfall for up to 10 years.
During this time, crops would not be able to grow, leading to mass deaths. Additionally, with the ozone layer destroyed, people would also face radiation damage and would have to hide underground, competing for food and resources.
She mentioned that renowned American climate and atmospheric science expert Brian Toon had told her that only the people of Australia and New Zealand might survive the winter following a nuclear war outbreak, as these countries have self-sufficient agriculture.
Jacobsen also revealed that former U.S. Secretary of Defense Bill Perry had witnessed the close call of a nuclear war outbreak between the United States and the Soviet Union.
She recounted how Perry, during his research work at the Pentagon under President Jimmy Carter, one night was informed by the National Military Command Center located underground at the Pentagon that ballistic missiles from the Soviet Union were in flight.
She further added that the U.S. Strategic Command confirmed this information. The headquarters of the command is situated at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
Not only were intercontinental ballistic missiles heading towards the U.S., but also submarine-launched ballistic missiles. These missiles carried massive warheads.
Jacobsen mentioned that Perry was extremely tense at the moment. He had to inform Carter about the situation and seek countermeasures.
However, Perry soon learned that it was a false alarm triggered by a VHS videotape simulation of a Soviet attack on the U.S. The tape had been mistakenly inserted into the machine at the National Military Command Center, which was linked to the Strategic Command, allowing both locations to view the simulated scenarios.
She quoted Perry as saying, “It (referring to the simulated scenario) looked real because it’s meant to look real.”