Watch the world burn in a new computer program that will simulate the fallout from global nuclear war designed by a German engineer
- Developed by engineer Ivan Stepanov, the program began as a video game mod
- Called Nuclear War Simulator, the program will be released in 2020
- The program can show hundreds of attacks, and simulate nuclear winter
A new nuclear war simulator program will allow users to see the extraordinary and far-reaching consequences of global nuclear war.
Developed by German engineer Ivan Stepanov, Nuclear War Simulator will be available to the public in early 2020.
The program will let users plan not just a single nuclear detonation, but hundreds of them all around the world, simulating how a nuclear war might break out from smaller regional conflicts.
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Nuclear War Simulator (pictured above) will let users customize their own global nuclear war
In an interview with Motherboard, Stepanov said the goal of the project was to ‘raise awareness of the dangers that nuclear weapons present to our society.’
The program presents an interactive 3D model of the Earth, which users can rotate and zoom in and out of to locate targets.
There’s also a population density map that helps users identify areas that would be hardest hit by a nuclear strike.
Users can select the launch point, customize the strength of the blast, and see an estimate of the immediate number of deaths, and those that would occur from radiation after the fact.
The simulator can also visualize the amount of smoke released into the atmosphere, and simulate a nuclear winter in the case of multiple warheads exploding around the world.
‘[It is a realistic interactive simulation and visualisation for nuclear conflicts with a focus on humanitarian impact,’ Stepanov told Motherboard.
The program will show both immediate deaths (in red), and deaths caused by radiation (in blue), using population density maps
Users will have access to a wide array of customization options, including warhead strength, missile type, launch device, and more
NWS will let users simulate the domino effect triggered by a regional conflict, which would eventually draw all of the world’s nuclear powers into war
‘It is technically not a game as there is no goal and no reward for nuking everybody.’
‘Instead, it is an interactive educational sandbox where you have the freedom to setup and replay any conflict scenario you want.’
Users can also program the type of missile that delivers the nuclear warhead, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and gravity bombs, each of which will produce a different effect.
Users determine the launch platforms, including bomber planes, submarines, or silo centers. `
They can also map nuclear stockpiles in different countries, and then simulate what would happen if one country attacked another and triggered a domino effect of nuclear powers attacking each other.
NWS was originally intended to be a mod for ‘Defcon,’ a video game about nuclear deterrence originally released in 2006.
HOW TO SURVIVE A NUCLEAR BOMB
Experts have detailed a number of tips to improve your chances of survival in the event of a nuclear disaster, including:
Pack an emergency supply kit containing water and non-perishable food items.
When a nuclear bomb goes off, it sends out radiation that can ruin your mobile phone and laptop, so preparing battery-powered radios for communication is wise.
For the blast, it is important to get as much concrete between you and the blast as possible.
For the fall-out it’s important to have thick walls and a thick roof, he says, and in a house it is a good idea to blockade all the windows.
Scientists have devised the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (pictured) as a way to protect the world’s food supply in the event of a global disaster. It’s located in Norway
But if you are outside and know the blast is coming, you might have time to get to a better shelter.
First you should get on the ground with your hands behind your head and brace yourself for the blast.
Never look at the blast, because it can cause you to go blind temporarily.
The, after the blast, you have 30 minutes to get to the best place.
Once you get inside remove your clothes and clean yourself straight away and blow your nose, to stop the radioactive materials from spreading, and do not use conditioner.
If you cannot have a shower, wipe yourself with a wet cloth.