What would be your course of action if a nuclear bomb detonated in close proximity to your location?

The day of reckoning has arrived. A nuclear bomb has been detonated, unleashing a catastrophic inferno right before your very eyes. The once thriving land now crumbles into ashes, carried away by the merciless wind within a matter of moments. Your survival hinges on mere seconds as you desperately seek refuge. However, once the blast engulfs everything, the searing light will scorch your skin. It is imperative to avert your gaze from the explosion, for the intensity of the light can cause irreparable harm. Surprisingly, removing your clothes can potentially save your life. This is a hypothetical scenario, exploring the consequences of a nuclear explosion in close proximity. Once the missile is launched, there is no escaping the impending doom. The question remains, what exactly are you up against?

There are four distinct forms of energy that are on the verge of being released. Initially, a powerful blast wave will surge through the terrain, causing you to be tossed around like a lifeless doll and obliterating structures in its path. Following this, prepare yourself for an overwhelming brightness accompanied by scorching heat and lethal radiation. Subsequently, a scalding gas bubble will materialize, forming a fireball that will disintegrate everything within its vicinity. The resulting dust and debris will ascend into the atmosphere, giving rise to the iconic mushroom cloud. Even if, by some miraculous chance, you managed to survive this horrifying ordeal, your life would never be the same again.

To date, only one country has utilized a nuclear weapon against its adversary. The initial of the two bombs that were released on Japan by the United States during World War II, known as "Little Boy," caused extensive damage to Hiroshima with its 15-kiloton TNT equivalent. However, this is insignificant compared to the power of modern nuclear weapons. The most potent nuclear weapon today is 80 times more powerful than the one that struck Hiroshima. While this would be catastrophic and level everything for miles, it would not render our planet a nuclear wasteland. Unfortunately, if you happen to be in the blast radius, your days would be numbered, as the intense bright light would be fatal.

The intensity of the flash from a nuclear explosion is so strong that it can cause severe burns and even be fatal. In fact, in Japan, 50% of the people who died from the explosion were killed by the intense flash burns. If you were to stare directly into the blast, the light would over saturate your retinal pigments and leave you blind. Flash blindness can go away after two minutes if the explosion happens during the day, but at night, you could be blinded for much longer. If you weren't sheltered during the explosion, you may not survive what's coming next. The nuclear fireball would expand out like a balloon rising into the sky, and the heat from that fireball would send out a blast wave that would rip you and the ground under you apart. If you didn't make it indoors before the blast, the supersonic wave might kill you by ripping off your skin or sending you flying through the air. Then, a violent burst of thermal radiation would be released and head right toward you. Unfortunately, it's only going to get worse. A second pulse would hit, carrying 99% of the total thermal radiation from the nuke. Even if you were eight kilometers away, you could still suffer first-degree burns from this detonation, and all of this would happen in a matter of moments. The resulting mushroom cloud would tower above everything. If you were to survive, even suffering third-degree burns, the pain would be enough to send your body into instant shock. Hospitals, if there were any left in the area, would be so overrun with other victims that you might not get treated for hours.

Immediately after the explosion, gamma and neutron radiation would engulf everything, posing a grave threat to anyone who managed to survive the initial blast and intense heat. This radiation has the potential to be lethal. As time passes and the dust settles, the radioactive particles would permeate everything, rendering the blast site hazardous for months, if not years. Exposure to radiation could result in brain seizures, cancer, and a decrease in lymphocyte cells, thereby increasing the risk of infections. To avoid the deadly fallout, it would be crucial to quickly find shelter. You would have approximately 10 minutes before the radiation reaches you, so it is imperative to seek refuge in a sturdy structure made of concrete or brick, where you can stay protected for the next 24 hours. It is recommended to remove your contaminated clothing, as doing so can eliminate up to 90 percent of the radioactive material clinging to your body. Modesty should be set aside for the time being. After undressing, thoroughly wash yourself with soap and water to remove any remaining radioactive particles. It is likely that there would be no power available, but it is important to refrain from using air conditioning or fans, as they could bring in contaminated air from the outside. Despite taking all necessary precautions, it is impossible to guarantee complete safety in the face of nuclear annihilation. Considering that the United States and Russia possess 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, the threat is ever-present. If Russia were to launch a nuclear attack, it would be crucial to seek shelter and remain vigilant. However, that is a story for another time.