What would happen if the US got nuked?

If the U.S. got nuked, it would cause immediate, catastrophic destruction from blast, heat, and radiation, killing millions and crippling infrastructure, followed by long-term devastation from radioactive fallout, widespread disease, societal collapse, and potentially a global "nuclear winter" (climate disruption and famine) due to smoke and dust blocking the sun, leading to mass starvation and ecosystem collapse. Modern technology, power grids, and communication would fail due to electromagnetic pulses (EMP), overwhelming relief efforts and plunging survivors into darkness and chaos, with severe health impacts from radiation sickness.
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Can we stop a nuke from hitting us?

The short answer to this is probably not. Most experts agree it would be almost impossible to develop a system that would be 100% guaranteed to destroy all incoming ballistic missiles, which, when it comes to nuclear weapons and their destructive power, is what you would need.
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Would any human survive a nuclear war?

Humanity would likely not go extinct after a nuclear war, but billions would die from blasts, radiation, and the ensuing global famine (nuclear winter), leading to the total collapse of civilization; survivors in hardened shelters or remote areas might endure, but face a devastated, resource-scarce planet, struggling to rebuild amidst immense ecological and societal devastation. 
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How would the US respond to a nuclear attack?

Aircraft could be brought to transport large numbers of casualties or bring in supplies. The Army Chemical Corps would bring CBRN or Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear units to decontaminate survivors of an attack as well as personnel, vehicles and equipment entering and leaving the contamination area.
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Who has 90% of the world's nuclear weapons?

Number of nuclear warheads worldwide 2025

There were approximately 12,200 nuclear warheads worldwide as of January 2025, and almost 90 percent of them belong to two countries: Russia and the United States.
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What Happens AFTER Nuclear War?

Who has better nukes, Russia or the USA?

Russia generally possesses a larger total number of nuclear warheads, while the U.S. maintains a highly advanced and modernized arsenal with comparable deployed strategic forces, making it difficult to declare one definitively "better," as their strengths lie in different areas, with both countries modernizing their delivery systems and holding the vast majority of the world's nuclear weapons. 
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What is the deadliest weapon in the world?

The "deadliest" weapon depends on the criteria (single event vs. total kills), but nuclear weapons, especially modern thermonuclear ones like Russia's Satan 2 (RS-28) or the historic Tsar Bomba, are the most powerful for mass destruction, capable of wiping out cities. Historically, artillery and small arms (like guns) have caused the most fatalities over time, while biological/chemical weapons, though less used in modern times, pose extreme threats. 
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What state would be the safest in a nuclear war?

No U.S. state is completely safe in a nuclear war, but those with sparse populations, far from military/urban centers, and with natural resources like Maine, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, and parts of the Midwest (like North Dakota) are considered relatively safer due to less direct targeting and potential for self-sufficiency, though radioactive fallout is a universal threat. Geographic isolation, away from missile silos or major cities, offers the best chance to avoid immediate blast/fire, but fallout can travel globally. 
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Can we deactivate a nuclear bomb?

Can we stop a nuclear attack? Once a nuclear missile has been launched, there is very limited capabilities of stopping that missile. No nation has a credible system in place to combat launched nuclear weapons. However, there are steps we can take to prevent a nuclear missile from being launched.
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How could WWIII be prevented?

Advocates of deterrence theory hold that nuclear weapons prevent World War III–like great power conflict, while advocates of nuclear disarmament hold that their risks far outweigh this.
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What did Einstein warn about the atomic bomb?

Since I do not foresee that atomic energy is to be a great boon for a long time, I have to say that for the present it is a menace. Perhaps it is well that it should be. It may intimidate the human race into bringing order into its international affairs, which, without the pressure of fear, it would not do.
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Can you survive a nuclear bomb in a house?

During the time with the highest radiation levels it is safest to stay inside, sheltered away from the radioactive material outside. Radiation levels are extremely dangerous after a nuclear detonation but the levels reduce rapidly. Expect to stay inside for at least 24 hours unless told otherwise by authorities.
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How long would it take the Earth to recover from a nuclear war?

Recovery would probably take about 3-10 years, but the Academy's study notes that long term global changes cannot be completely ruled out. The reduced ozone concentrations would have a number of consequences outside the areas in which the detonations occurred.
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Where are US nukes located?

The current ICBM force consists of 400 Minuteman III missiles located at the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Contractor: Boeing Co.
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What to do if a nuke goes off?

If a nuclear bomb hits, your immediate actions are Drop, Cover, and Hold to survive the blast, then Get Inside, Stay Inside, Stay Tuned to shield from deadly radioactive fallout, ideally in a basement or center of a sturdy building for at least 24 hours, turning off ventilation and waiting for official guidance. 
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Can the US intercept nukes?

Yes, the U.S. has missile defense systems (like GMD, THAAD, Aegis) designed to intercept some incoming ballistic missiles, but experts agree no system can reliably stop a massive, strategic nuclear attack from major powers like Russia or China, as attackers can overwhelm defenses with sheer numbers or advanced countermeasures. Current defenses focus more on thwarting limited attacks from rogue states like North Korea, though their effectiveness against even those threats is debated, with plans for next-generation interceptors underway.
 
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Do nukes expire?

Yes, nuclear weapons don't truly "expire" like food, but their components degrade, requiring extensive maintenance, refurbishment through "life extension programs," or replacement to remain safe and functional, with key issues being aging electronics, degrading conventional explosives, and tritium decay (needing replenishment every few years). While the fissile core (plutonium/uranium) lasts millennia, complex systems need constant care to prevent failure over decades.
 
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Could you drive away from a nuke?

Do not try to escape by car. There will likely be traffic jams and your car offers no protection from nuclear effects.
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What country is least likely to go to war?

While no country is entirely immune, Iceland consistently ranks as the most peaceful, least war-prone nation due to its lack of military, neutrality, and stability, often joined at the top by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, and Austria, which benefit from geography, neutrality, or self-sufficiency, making them unlikely to initiate or be targeted in large conflicts. 
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What is the danger zone for a nuke?

Severe shockwave damage could extend to about a half mile. Severe thermal damage would extend out about a mile. Flying debris could extend up to a few miles. Initial (prompt) nuclear radiation for a 10-Kt blast could expose unprotected people within about 3/4 mile of the explosion site to lethal radiation dose.
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Where to hide during war?

Underpasses, subways, shelters, ditches, trenches, pits, wide gutters under the road, high curbs, or maintenance holes are suitable for hiding. If the shelling catches you on public transport, demand an immediate stop and get out. Run as far away from the road as possible and lie down on the ground.
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What is a god-killing weapon?

The God Killer is a sword created by Hephaestus that can, as the name implies, kill Gods.
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What's more powerful than a nuke?

What's more powerful than a standard atomic bomb (fission) are thermonuclear weapons (hydrogen bombs), which use fusion for vastly greater energy, like the Tsar Bomba, the most powerful ever detonated; but in theory, antimatter weapons hold immense destructive potential, though impractical now. The "Father of All Bombs" (FOAB) is the strongest conventional weapon, not nuclear. 
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