What happens if nuclear bomb explodes

That night on another atoll a thousand miles away, the U. Photographers aimed their lenses toward the horizon and debated the best camera settings for capturing a thermonuclear explosion in outer space. It turned out that the blast—a 1. Starfish Prime exploded at an altitude of miles, at about the height where the International Space Station orbits today.

An accompanying electromagnetic pulse washed out radio stations, set off an emergency siren, and caused streetlights to black out in Hawaii. The following year, the U. The memory of that day stuck with Spriggs, who is now a weapons scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, where he works preserving and analyzing archival nuclear test footage. A year before, in , international negotiations to ban nuclear testing had taken a turn for the worse.

After three years of no testing, the Soviet Union and the U. It was set off in October , about 13, feet above an island in the Arctic Circle. The space race was in its infancy back then, and the U. The Department of Defense was in the midst of a separate project to put million copper needles into orbit to try to reflect radio waves and help long-distance communication.

There was even a plan, which ultimately fizzled, to set off a nuclear blast on the moon. And that was a shocker back then. During a press conference in May , President John F. After four days of delays, waiting for the perfect weather, Starfish Prime was launched on the tip of a Thor rocket from Johnston Atoll, an island about nautical miles southwest of Hawaii.

Shut off ventilation systems and seal doors or windows until the fallout cloud has passed. However, after the fallout cloud has passed, unseal the doors and windows to allow some air circulation. Stay inside until authorities say it is safe to come out. Listen to the local radio or television for information and advice. Authorities may direct you to stay in your shelter or evacuate to a safer place away from the area. If you must go out, cover your mouth and nose with a damp towel.

Use stored food and drinking water. Do not eat local fresh food or drink water from open water supplies. Clean and cover any open wounds on your body. If you are advised to evacuate: Listen to the radio or television for information about evacuation routes, temporary shelters, and procedures to follow.

Before you leave, close and lock windows and doors and turn off air conditioning, vents, fans, and furnace. Close fireplace dampers. Take disaster supplies with you such as a flashlight and extra batteries, battery-operated radio, first aid kit and manual, emergency food and water, nonelectric can opener, essential medicines, cash and credit cards, and sturdy shoes. Remember your neighbors may require special assistance, especially infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities.

Is a nuclear bomb the same as a suitcase bomb? Is a nuclear bomb the same as a dirty bomb? Would an airplane crash in a nuclear power plant have the same effect as a nuclear blast? Do I need to take potassium iodide KI if there is a nuclear blast? Where can I get more information? National Response Team external icon The U. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. It could trap radiation in your hair. Because outer layers of clothing would likely be contaminated by fallout, the CDC recommends sealing them in a plastic bag that's out of the reach of children and pets.

You should also seal off any tissues or cloths used to wipe your body or face. Following any kind of nuclear explosion, the CDC says it's all right to consume food from sealed containers such packages, bottles, or cans.

You can also eat things from your pantry or refrigerator, as long as you wipe off food containers, cookware, counters, and utensils. But anything that was left uncovered, especially if it was outdoors — such as fruits or veggies from a garden — would be unsafe to eat. Nuclear explosions produce a powerful phenomenon called a nuclear electromagnetic pulse EMP , an invisible burst of energy that can slash power, phone, and internet lines.

A nuclear EMP could also disrupt radio waves, but that's less likely, since radios have a simpler circuitry. So in the wake of an explosion, emergency-response officials will likely broadcast safety instructions over the radio. Unless these officials tell you it's safe to go outside, it's best to stay put until the risk of contamination has gone down. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more.

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It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. The visible light will produce "flashblindness" in people who are looking in the direction of the explosion. Flashblindness can last for several minutes, after which recovery is total. If the flash is focused through the lens of the eye, a permanent retinal burn will result.

At Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were many cases of flashblindness, but only one case of retinal burn, among the survivors.

On the other hand, anyone flashblinded while driving a car could easiIy cause permanent injury to himself and to others. Skin burns result from higher intensities of light, and therefore take place closer to the point of explosion.

First-degree, second-degree and third-degree burns can occur at distances of five miles away from the blast or more. Third-degree burns over 24 percent of the body, or second-degree burns over 30 percent of the body, will result in serious shock, and will probably prove fatal unless prompt, specialized medical care is available.

The entire United States has facilities to treat 1, or 2, severe burn cases. A single nuclear weapon could produce more than 10, The thermal radiation from a nuclear explosion can directly ignite kindling materials.

In general, ignitable materials outside the house, such as leaves or newspapers, are not surrounded by enough combustible material to generate a self-sustaining fire. Fires more likely to spread are those caused by thermal radiation passing through windows to ignite beds and overstuffed furniture inside houses. Another possible source of fires, which might be more damaging in urban areas, is indirect. Blast damage to Stores, water heaters, furnaces, electrical circuits or gas lines would ignite fires where fuel is plentiful.