If The Nukes Start Flying, Only Two Countries Will Be Able To Survive

They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. That seems particularly true lately for those of us who lived through the ‘80s: back then, there was a constant fear that the Soviet Union would try to launch nuclear missiles at the United States. Getting hit with even a single nuke would be bad enough. However, America would get enough of a warning to launch their own nukes in response, resulting in mutually assured destruction…better known as the end of the world!

Now, America’s attack on Iran and other global tensions have reignited fears about a nuclear war wiping all of humanity off the face of the planet. But here’s a silver lining on the apocalypse: some of humanity might actually survive. In fact, one combat expert is certain that two countries would make it through an all-out nuclear war. What are those countries, and what makes them so special? Keep reading to find out!

Why is the fear of nuclear war on the rise?

As mentioned before, widespread fears of an all-out nuclear war go all the way back to the ‘80s. Now, decades later, why have those fears been reignited? The short answer is America joining with Israel to launch an attack on Iran, one which killed that country’s Ayatollah and caused widespread damage to civilian targets, including a girls’ school. Unsurprisingly, Iran has struck back in a variety of ways, including blockading and then mining the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport vital oil to countries all around the world.

Why does anyone think an attack on Iran could result in a nuclear war? For decades, certain national leaders (especially those in Israel) have warned that Iran is right on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons technology with which they could threaten the world. Attacking the country and killing its leader is seen by some as a kind of preemptive strike intended to keep America and other countries safe. However, others worry that Iran may already have nukes, and by attacking, the United States risks a reprisal that could result in all-out nuclear war.

RELATED: 5 Simple Habits That May Cause Early Death

The surprising reason most of humanity dies in a nuclear war

You’ve likely grown up hearing about how nuclear war is likely to wipe out all of humanity. However, do you know how it is likely to happen? You see, not everyone is going to be wiped out right away by the explosive force of the bombs. Instead, many people would end up starving or freezing to death. Why is that? Simple: nuclear war would change the environment of every country on the face of the planet!

You see, the bombs might not wipe out all of humanity, but they will wipe out almost all agriculture and industry. That means many of those who survive the initial blast would be stuck in a world where they can no longer grow or import food. This might be a short-lived worry, though: most of the world would be covered by snow in a new Ice Age, and with no power for things like heaters, plenty are likely to freeze to death. If that’s not bad enough, don’t forget radiation poisoning: it might take a while to kill you, but with no access to medicine or hospitals, the final days of those affected would be excruciatingly painful!

What two countries would survive?

So, all of that horrifying information above? That’s obviously the bad news. Fortunately, there’s a bit of good news to go with it. According to Annie Jacobsen (who wrote Nuclear War: A Scenario), there are two countries that would likely survive in the event of a nuclear war, and it’s not the countries you might expect. You see, Jacobsen is convinced that the two countries that might thrive in the post-apocalypse are New Zealand and Australia.

Why would these countries be able to survive when the other nations of the world are doomed? For one thing, these countries wouldn’t be hit by the new Ice Age as hard as most other countries, allowing more people to survive underground. Furthermore, these areas would still be able to sustain agriculture after the nuclear apocalypse. Therefore, the tiny remnant of humanity (remember, we’re only talking about two countries here) might not represent that many people, but they would be able to keep themselves alive by growing their own crops.

Are there any other countries that might still be able to survive after a nuclear attack? As you might expect, it all depends on how many nukes are fired and how many ultimately explode after being shot down by various missile interception systems. Depending on a variety of factors, Chile, Iceland, Switzerland, South Africa, and Tuvalu could survive. In addition to supporting postapocalyptic agriculture, these countries do not have their own nuclear weapons, making them less likely to be priority targets for Iran or other nations.

RELATED: Are Glow-In-The-Dark Donuts Safe To Eat? Try This Recipe