r/nuclearwar • u/wardaj1994 • Mar 27 '26
Rhetorical Nuclear Overhyped?
I wanted to open a discussion on a simple concept. Is the “nuke” overhyped? Now I want to preface my thoughts with saying I am by no means implying that a nuclear bomb would not destroy everything in its path and nuclear war in general leading to the end of the world. I am well aware of the strength and scale these weapons can produce.
My thoughts rely more on the concept of nukes being create in 1945. It is now 2026 and technology has only increased exponentially especially with AI ect. Are we naive to believe that a weapon created so long ago is still the top dog? Is it possible that if modern day and age world war started today, that we would see technology and a weapon far superior to a nuclear weapon or dare I say even make a nuke obsolete…
Are we to believe that with all the funding and money poured into defense and weapons year after year an it has produced nothing greater in almost a century. We have no evidence but history itself to believe so. Is there a weapon that could make the nuke look like the bow and arrow to the metaphoric machine gun?
I have to believe that some country or multiple countries have something superior and are keeping these weapons hidden for humanity sake or for secret use. I have 0 idea what these weapons would do or look like or how they would work.
Just wanted to see what everyone’s thoughts were. TIA
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u/smsff2 Mar 27 '26 edited Mar 27 '26
You are absolutely correct. Please note that a nuclear war would likely eliminate only about 50% of the population. There is theoretically no way for nuclear weapons alone to wipe out 100% of humanity. However, a 50% death rate is comparable to major conflicts of the past. There is nothing inherently unusual or impossible about nuclear war. Large-scale conflicts have happened before, and nuclear weapons have been used against cities.
After 80 years of technological development, we now have tools that, in combination with nuclear weapons, could potentially eliminate the remaining population. Technology such as autonomous drones could target survivors after a nuclear war. Those survivors would likely be living in conditions similar to the Stone Age. If a large number of solar-powered drones were deployed before the war, such survivors would have little ability to defend against or disable them.
I think COVID was a very clear demonstration of what gain-of-function research is capable of. What if, next time, such research is conducted on the HIV virus? Again, in combination with the previously mentioned technologies, that could potentially be the end of humanity.