This Species Could Save Humanity in the Event of a Nuclear War

In the face of disasters that could drastically reduce Earth's sunlight, such as a major volcanic eruption or a nuclear war, international researchers have identified a food source capable of supporting humanity: seaweed. Rich in nutrients, these organisms could play a key role in preventing global famine in the event of a sudden reduction in sunlight, according to a recent study published in the journal Earth's Future.


Seaweeds, notably Gracilaria tikvahiae, or graceful red seaweed, have shown remarkable resilience, capable of surviving and thriving even in total nuclear war scenarios. Researchers from the Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters, Louisiana State University in the United States, the Marine Science Institute at the University of the Philippines, and the University of Canterbury in the United Kingdom, developed a model to simulate this seaweed's growth using post-disaster climate data.

According to this study, even in the scenario of a nuclear winter with the emission of 330 billion pounds (150 Tg) of soot into the atmosphere, enough sunlight would remain to allow seaweeds to photosynthesize. This discovery suggests that, despite reduced sunlight levels, seaweeds could meet about 45% of global food needs after just nine months of intensified production. However, the high iodine content of seaweeds limits their contribution to human nutrition to 15%.

Seaweeds offer not only a potential means of subsistence in extreme scenarios but also represent an important source of nutrition currently, rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, and fatty acids. Their ability to absorb contaminants can be mitigated by post-harvest treatment methods, ensuring their safety for human consumption.


Seaweed production supports many poor coastal communities in low-income countries, with a significant contribution from Asia to global production. This research emphasizes the importance of developing seaweed farms as a precautionary measure against global disasters and as an element of global food security.