Key facts
- Simulation predicts 34.1 million deaths in hours.
- An additional 55.9 million would be injured.
- The simulation was developed by Princeton University researchers.
A simulation developed by Princeton University researchers, known as 'Plan A', illustrates the potentially catastrophic consequences of a nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO. The four-minute animation, originally released in 2017, has seen renewed interest amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The model predicts that a nuclear exchange could result in 34.1 million deaths within hours and leave another 55.9 million injured, not accounting for subsequent effects like fallout. Researchers noted that crises like the current one can lead to miscommunication due to limited active communication lines between Russia and NATO.