Many of our viewers have asked us a very serious question:

What if we made a big pile of bombs

What if we made a big pile of bombs

and exploded every nuclear weapon in the world all at once?

and exploded every nuclear weapon in the world all at once?

Strangely enough, we couldn't find a good source

Strangely enough, we couldn't find a good source

to answer this question to our satisfaction.

to answer this question to our satisfaction.

So, we gathered together a few scientists to calculate what would happen.

So, we gathered together a few scientists to calculate what would happen.

And find an answer to this extremely important scientific problem,

And find an answer to this extremely important scientific problem,

once and for all.

once and for all.

Currently, there are 15,000 nuclear weapons on Earth.

Currently, there are 15,000 nuclear weapons on Earth.

The US and Russia both have around 7,000,

The US and Russia both have around 7,000,

while France, China, the UK, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea

while France, China, the UK, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea

own around 1,000 between them.

own around 1,000 between them.

But, how much destructive power is this really?

But, how much destructive power is this really?

Let's try to put these numbers into perspective.

Let's try to put these numbers into perspective.

On Earth, there are about 4,500 cities or urban areas

On Earth, there are about 4,500 cities or urban areas

with at least 100,000 inhabitants.

with at least 100,000 inhabitants.

Some are bigger than others, so we'll assume that on average,

Some are bigger than others, so we'll assume that on average,

we need three nuclear bombs to completely wipe out one city.

we need three nuclear bombs to completely wipe out one city.

This means we could destroy every single city on planet Earth,

This means we could destroy every single city on planet Earth,

with our nuclear arsenal,

with our nuclear arsenal,

killing more than three billion people -- roughly half of humanity

killing more than three billion people -- roughly half of humanity

in an instant.

in an instant.

And, we'd still have 1,500 nuclear weapons left.

And, we'd still have 1,500 nuclear weapons left.

Now that's what an expert would call, "overkill."

Now that's what an expert would call, "overkill."

So, we can say with confidence, that we have a lot of nuclear weapons

So, we can say with confidence, that we have a lot of nuclear weapons

and they can do a lot of damage.

and they can do a lot of damage.

But, what if we make a huge pile of all 15,000 bombs and pull the trigger?

But, what if we make a huge pile of all 15,000 bombs and pull the trigger?

Let's drop our nuclear pile in the middle of the Amazon rainforest;

Let's drop our nuclear pile in the middle of the Amazon rainforest;

just a show nature who's boss.

just a show nature who's boss.

Our warheads, piled haphazardly, fit into a small warehouse.

Our warheads, piled haphazardly, fit into a small warehouse.

A typical US warhead has the power of two hundred thousand tons of TNT.

A typical US warhead has the power of two hundred thousand tons of TNT.

So, fifteen thousand warheads would be the equivalent of three billion tons of TNT.

So, fifteen thousand warheads would be the equivalent of three billion tons of TNT.

For scale, this is enough to rebuild the whole island of Manhattan

For scale, this is enough to rebuild the whole island of Manhattan

with every building and skyscraper using stacks of TNT.

with every building and skyscraper using stacks of TNT.

The closest thing we can compare to the energy gathered here, is a volcano.

The closest thing we can compare to the energy gathered here, is a volcano.

One of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in recorded history took place in 1883,

One of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in recorded history took place in 1883,

on the island of Krakatoa.

on the island of Krakatoa.

The eruption was so powerful, that 70% of the island,

The eruption was so powerful, that 70% of the island,

and the surrounding archipelago, was destroyed

and the surrounding archipelago, was destroyed

killing tens of thousands of people.

killing tens of thousands of people.

Its effects were felt around the world for days after the event.

Its effects were felt around the world for days after the event.

Our nuclear pile contains 15 times the energy of the Krakatoa volcanic eruption.

Our nuclear pile contains 15 times the energy of the Krakatoa volcanic eruption.

So, let's finally push the button.

So, let's finally push the button.

Three,

Three,

two,

two,

one.

one.

In a second,

In a second,

a fireball 50 kilometers across vaporizes everything in its way,

a fireball 50 kilometers across vaporizes everything in its way,

and creates a blast wave that flattens 3,000 square kilometers of forest.

and creates a blast wave that flattens 3,000 square kilometers of forest.

Every living thing within 250 kilometers will start to burn.

Every living thing within 250 kilometers will start to burn.

The explosion will be heard literally around the world,

The explosion will be heard literally around the world,

as the pressure wave circles the Earth tens of times over the next few weeks.

as the pressure wave circles the Earth tens of times over the next few weeks.

Millions of tons of incinerated material are catapulted into the atmosphere.

Millions of tons of incinerated material are catapulted into the atmosphere.

The mushroom cloud reaches the outer reaches of the stratosphere,

The mushroom cloud reaches the outer reaches of the stratosphere,

pushing up against space itself.

pushing up against space itself.

After things have calmed down,

After things have calmed down,

a small crater -- about ten kilometers across

a small crater -- about ten kilometers across

is left in the center of the worst world fires the planet has seen in millennia,

is left in the center of the worst world fires the planet has seen in millennia,

spreading throughout South America, burning down forests and cities alike.

spreading throughout South America, burning down forests and cities alike.

And, now, the unpleasant part begins.

And, now, the unpleasant part begins.

Extremely radioactive material will kill living things very quickly,

Extremely radioactive material will kill living things very quickly,

and a large area several kilometers around the crater is now uninhabitable,

and a large area several kilometers around the crater is now uninhabitable,

as is everywhere for hundreds of kilometers downwind.

as is everywhere for hundreds of kilometers downwind.

Much of the fallout is carried high into the atmosphere by the mushroom cloud

Much of the fallout is carried high into the atmosphere by the mushroom cloud

and carried around the planet.

and carried around the planet.

The amount of radioactive material in the environment doubles worldwide,

The amount of radioactive material in the environment doubles worldwide,

which still isn't civilization-ending, but we may see more cancer for a while.

which still isn't civilization-ending, but we may see more cancer for a while.

A portion of the particles will flow to the edge of space for years

A portion of the particles will flow to the edge of space for years

and cause a nuclear winter

and cause a nuclear winter

that could lower global temperatures by a few degrees for a few years.

that could lower global temperatures by a few degrees for a few years.

This explosion was pretty bad if you're in South America, and especially Brazil.

This explosion was pretty bad if you're in South America, and especially Brazil.

The Amazon rainforest is pretty much history, which is not great.

The Amazon rainforest is pretty much history, which is not great.

But, human life will go on.

But, human life will go on.

OK, but what if we explode more nuclear weapons?

OK, but what if we explode more nuclear weapons?

Let's suppose humanity decided to mine every bit of uranium on Earth

Let's suppose humanity decided to mine every bit of uranium on Earth

and build as many nuclear bombs as possible.

and build as many nuclear bombs as possible.

At current usage,

At current usage,

it's estimated that there are around 35 million tons of uranium in Earth's crust;

it's estimated that there are around 35 million tons of uranium in Earth's crust;

enough to power human civilization for over 2,000 years,

enough to power human civilization for over 2,000 years,

or to build millions of nuclear warheads.

or to build millions of nuclear warheads.

For the sake of argument,

For the sake of argument,

let's say we create a pile with the yield of 10 billion Hiroshima bombs,

let's say we create a pile with the yield of 10 billion Hiroshima bombs,

which makes up a cube three kilometers high that contains roughly the energy

which makes up a cube three kilometers high that contains roughly the energy

of the asteroid impact that ended the age of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

of the asteroid impact that ended the age of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

Except, it's also nuclear.

Except, it's also nuclear.

Three,

Three,

two,

two,

one.

one.

Our pile explodes in a fireball stretching so high into the sky

Our pile explodes in a fireball stretching so high into the sky

that it's visible from half of South America,

that it's visible from half of South America,

with so much power that the ground just splashes like water

with so much power that the ground just splashes like water

forming a crater 100 kilometers across.

forming a crater 100 kilometers across.

Bedrock on the scale of whole mountain ranges is vaporized in an instant,

Bedrock on the scale of whole mountain ranges is vaporized in an instant,

while thousands of tons of material is catapulted away with such speed,

while thousands of tons of material is catapulted away with such speed,

that it's ejected into space.

that it's ejected into space.

Some leaves Earth forever,

Some leaves Earth forever,

while most of it comes raining down as hot, burning debris

while most of it comes raining down as hot, burning debris

that heats up the atmosphere to oven-like temperatures,

that heats up the atmosphere to oven-like temperatures,

killing most big animals and causing fire storms all over the world.

killing most big animals and causing fire storms all over the world.

The Earth's crust rings like a bell

The Earth's crust rings like a bell

struck by global earthquakes stronger than anything in recorded history,

struck by global earthquakes stronger than anything in recorded history,

decimating cities around the world,

decimating cities around the world,

while hurricane-force winds flatten every single tree in South America,

while hurricane-force winds flatten every single tree in South America,

and wildfires consume the continent.

and wildfires consume the continent.

The abundance of hydrocarbons in the Amazon burn to form ash,

The abundance of hydrocarbons in the Amazon burn to form ash,

are cast into the atmosphere, darting the sky

are cast into the atmosphere, darting the sky

and keeping sunlight from reaching the surface,

and keeping sunlight from reaching the surface,

dropping temperatures to near freezing worldwide.

dropping temperatures to near freezing worldwide.

The ensuing global winter may last for decades,

The ensuing global winter may last for decades,

and results in the extinction of every large animal species, humans included.

and results in the extinction of every large animal species, humans included.

We could also mention that every corner of the planet is covered with radioactive fallout,

We could also mention that every corner of the planet is covered with radioactive fallout,

but at this point, it doesn't matter that much anymore.

but at this point, it doesn't matter that much anymore.

This is humanity's extinction event.

This is humanity's extinction event.

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station get to enjoy a great view for a while,

The astronauts aboard the International Space Station get to enjoy a great view for a while,