Name: Can you survive nuclear fallout? - Brooke Buddemeier and Jessica S. Wieder
Uploaded: 2020-03-21T01:41:58.000Z
Duration: 5 min 25 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

The full scope of a nuclear detonation  is almost unimaginable.

Hopefully, no one will ever experience  another of these catastrophic incidents.

But there is a scientifically supported  plan of action

that could save hundreds  of thousands of lives

in the area surrounding  a nuclear explosion.

and what exactly would it protect us from?

these weapons harness  the power of nuclear fission–

in which an atom’s nucleus  is split in two.

This process produces an incredible  amount of energy,

and in some materials the neutrons  produced by one fission

These chain reactions can produce  a range of explosive yields,

but let’s consider an explosion  equivalent to 10,000 tons of TNT.

a fireball capable of decimating  a few city blocks

and a shockwave damaging buildings  several kilometers away.

There is tragically nothing  that can be done

to save those in the fireball’s radius.

However, for those in the  shockwave and beyond,

our scientifically supported protocol  could be life saving.

the best way to stay protected before,  during, and after a nuclear detonation,

Similar to protecting yourself  from tornadoes or hurricanes,

getting and staying inside a sturdy  building would offer protection

from the explosion’s shockwave,  heat, and radiation.

several kilometers beyond the fireball’s  radius in the first few seconds.

Sturdy buildings within that range should be able to withstand the shockwave,

and staying in the centers and basements  of these buildings

also helps provide protection from  heat and flying objects.

Finding shelter is especially important  if the fireball occurs close to the earth,

as it will pull thousands of tons of dirt  and debris

unstable atoms created by the nuclear  fission mix with the debris

to produce the most dangerous long-term  effect of a nuclear detonation:

These sand-sized particles emit  ionizing radiation,

capable of separating electrons from  molecules and atoms.

Exposure to massive amounts of this  radiation can result in cell damage,

radiation burns, radiation sickness,  cancer, and even death.

dangerous concentrations of this material

would be driven by upper  atmospheric winds,

potentially leading to hazardous  levels of fallout

in areas up to tens of  kilometers downwind.

Thankfully, the same buildings that offer protection from the blast

are even better at  guarding against fallout.

Radiation is reduced as it travels  through space and mass.

So while a broken window and sealed window

both have the same minimal  effect on radiation,

thick layers of steel, concrete,  and packed earth

And since fallout gives off half of its  energy in the first hour

staying inside for 24 hours could  dramatically improve the odds

of avoiding the most serious  effects of radiation.

Following the blast there would be at  least 15 minutes to find shelter

Since the most hazardous fallout particles are the heaviest,

making ideal shelters underground  or in the middle of high-rise buildings.

But if someone were to get  caught in the fallout,

there are still measures they could take.

they should remove their shoes  and outer layers,

and store the contaminated  clothing far away.

plan on staying there  for at least 24 hours.

If the shelter is poor, or someone  inside needs urgent medical attention,

stay inside and stay tuned for more  information from first responders.

While electric power, cell service, and Internet would be down,

Nuclear weapons are some of the most  powerful tools of destruction on Earth,

and it may seem naive to put faith in these straightforward protective measures.

But studies and simulations have  repeatedly shown the benefits

So while we’ll hopefully never need to,

remember to Get Inside, Stay Inside,  and Stay Tuned.

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Can you survive nuclear fallout? - Brooke Buddemeier and Jessica S. Wieder

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