Nuclear Catastrophe Could Wipe Out Most of Humanity in Just Over an Hour, Says Annie Jacobsen

Renowned investigative journalist and nuclear war expert Annie Jacobsen has issued a chilling warning about the devastating consequences of a full-scale nuclear war. Speaking on the "Diary of a CEO" podcast, Jacobsen explained that if World War III breaks out and nuclear weapons are used, over 5 billion people could die within just 72 minutes.

Earth Will Freeze, Crops Will Die, and Radiation Will Be Unbearable

According to Jacobsen, the devastation won’t stop with explosions. What follows is a "nuclear winter" – a global drop in temperatures caused by dust and smoke blocking sunlight. The Earth will be wrapped in an icy shroud, crops will fail, and the climate will become too hostile for survival. Ozone layer destruction will make sunlight lethal, forcing people to live underground.

Societies Will Collapse Into Chaos

Radiation poisoning, starvation, and societal collapse would be inevitable. "People will be fighting over grains of food," Jacobsen warned, adding that open environments will become uninhabitable due to toxic UV exposure.

Two Nations May Endure: New Zealand and Australia

Despite the global catastrophe, New Zealand and Australia might emerge as the only countries relatively unaffected. Thanks to their geographical isolation and stable climates, these nations are likely to retain functioning agricultural systems and avoid the harshest effects of the nuclear fallout.

Jacobsen cites historical Pentagon research from 1959-60 and the findings of atmospheric science expert Prof. Brian Toon, who also confirmed that these two countries have the best survival odds in a post-nuclear scenario.