A
controversial predicted effect of a
nuclear war. The theory holds that the
dust and particles thrown into the
atmosphere by a massive
exchange of nuclear weapons would block a
large percentage of
sunlight, resulting in
global cooling and severe,
winterlike weather that would
kill crops and other
plants.
It is believed by many that a similar effect caused by an asteriod crashing in to the
Earth wiped out the
dinosaurs. An episode of
Doctor Who used this idea in the serial that saw the death of
Adric.