Scientists have researched: What will life be like after a nuclear war?

Scientists from the US state of Pennsylvania have revealed the details of a nuclear winter scenario that could occur after a global war.

This catastrophic scenario could lead to billions of people starving to death due to the collapse of agricultural production, with effects that could last for up to eight years, according to new research.

CORN WILL NOT GROW

Corn, the world's most important agricultural crop, will not be able to grow because it will not have access to sufficient heat and sunlight. This will cause eruption survivors to face widespread famine and food crises.

The blast, heat, and radiation from nuclear weapons, as well as the smoke rising from the fires, are blocking out sunlight, triggering a nuclear winter that will result in darkness, freezing cold, crop failure, and mass deaths.

“If we want to survive, we must be prepared for even the unthinkable,” said plant scientist Yuning Shi of Pennsylvania State University.

Research indicates that corn production would drop dramatically depending on the scale of a nuclear war. In a regional war, 5.5 million tons of soot released into the atmosphere could reduce global corn production by 7 percent. In a major global war, 165 million tons of soot could reduce production by 80 percent.

Such a decline would lead to similar losses not only in maize but also in other staples such as rice and wheat.

Researchers emphasize that even a 7% loss in production would undermine food security, while an 80% loss would create a global famine and hunger disaster. During this period, people may be forced to grow crops on their own land or in small local gardens, but even the supply of seeds and seedlings could become a serious problem.

The ozone layer will be destroyed

Additionally, the 165 million tons of soot released into the atmosphere in a large-scale war would destroy the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. This would damage plant tissue, further reducing agricultural production.

The research was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Environmental Research Letters and concluded with the following warning:

"Nuclear wars not only cause massive loss of life, but also a nuclear winter that lasts for years destroys agricultural land and production. Even if the climate recovers, high ultraviolet rays can continue to damage crops for years to come."