Fact check: Hypothetically, In the events of Mutually Assured Destruction enacted and nuclear weapons are being launched all over the world, what would be the possible outcomes, both in short- and long-terms?

1. Summary of the results

The concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a nuclear deterrence strategy developed during the Cold War, ensuring that a full-scale nuclear attack would result in complete annihilation of both the attacker and defender ^[1]. Currently, the United Nations has established an Independent Scientific Panel specifically to study the comprehensive effects of nuclear war, marking the first such study in over 30 years ^{[2] [3]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• The MAD doctrine assumes rational actors, which may not be applicable to all current nuclear-armed states ^[1]
• Modern technological developments, particularly in:
• Cyber-espionage
• High-speed missiles

Could potentially circumvent traditional MAD deterrence strategies ^[1]

• The current global situation is more complex than during the Cold War because:
• Nuclear arsenals are being modernized
• Global interdependence makes potential conflicts more catastrophic
• There are more nuclear-armed states involved ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question oversimplifies the complexity of nuclear conflict scenarios by:

• Assuming MAD would necessarily lead to worldwide nuclear launches, when historically the strategy actually prevented direct full-scale conflicts while allowing proxy wars ^[1]
• Not acknowledging that three nuclear-armed states have voted against comprehensive study of nuclear war effects, suggesting some nations prefer to maintain ambiguity about potential outcomes ^[3]
• Failing to recognize that the international community considers this threat serious enough to establish the first comprehensive study in three decades ^[3]

The question of nuclear war outcomes is considered so complex that it requires a dedicated UN panel to study the:

• Physical impacts
• Environmental consequences
• Health effects
• Societal implications

across local, regional, and planetary scales ^[2]