Could a full-scale thermonuclear war cause the extinction of the human species?

[The_Absolute]

If a full scale thermonuclear war were to occur, would it cause the literal extinction of the human species, as well as life on Earth as a whole?

I've read about military supercomputer simulations of this scenario, and does not result in human extinction. Although many Billion people do die. Probably about half or 3/4 of the entire world's population. But not into extinction. Even with the nuclear stockpiles during the peak of the cold war.

Some other things I have read do suggest that such an event would result in total extinction. Especially if chemical and biological weapons are used.

In the distant past, microbial life on Earth beneath the ocean floors has survived impacts by giant meteors, while all other life was annihilated. Within a few Million years, life on Earth was back and thriving.

 

[QuantumPion]

Well unless the two sides fighting the war decided they wanted to also nuke New Zealand, Madagascar, Pacific islands, Iceland, etc. for no particular reason I don't see how.

Maybe if the two sides nuked the whole planet liberally with salted bombs. But I'd imagine at least some people some where would survive. Or perhaps some sort of Dr. Strangelove doomsday device might (e.g. an enormous bomb made underground that was so powerful it could affect the entire planet like a large meteor impact). But these are more the realm of conjecture and fiction. In an actual nuclear war, only the participating countries and their allies would be directly affected.

 

[oswaler]

I can say that the effects of a full-scale thermonuclear war on the human species and life on Earth would be catastrophic. The amount of destruction and devastation caused by such an event would be immense and could potentially result in the loss of billions of human lives. However, it is unlikely that it would lead to the literal extinction of the human species and all life on Earth.

As you mentioned, supercomputer simulations have shown that even with the nuclear stockpiles during the peak of the cold war, human extinction was not a likely outcome. This is because our species has shown resilience and the ability to adapt to extreme conditions in the past. It is possible that pockets of human populations may survive and eventually repopulate the Earth.

However, the use of chemical and biological weapons in addition to nuclear weapons could greatly increase the chances of human extinction. These weapons have the potential to cause widespread and long-lasting damage to the environment and could make it difficult for any form of life to survive.

It is also important to consider the long-term effects of a thermonuclear war on the environment and the Earth's ecosystems. The release of large amounts of radiation and other toxic substances could have a devastating impact on the planet and could potentially lead to the extinction of many species.

In conclusion, while a full-scale thermonuclear war would have catastrophic consequences for humanity and life on Earth, it is unlikely to result in the literal extinction of the human species. However, the use of additional weapons and the long-term effects on the environment could greatly increase the chances of human extinction. It is crucial that we work towards preventing such a catastrophic event from occurring and finding peaceful solutions to conflicts.