The man dubbed the “Living Nostradamus” has predicted that the world will experience a technological blackout this year due to the use of electromagnetic pulse technology, and claimed his predictions are often misunderstood.
Athos Salome, 36, a trained parapsychologist from Brazil, has predicted the coronavirus pandemic, Elon Musk's Twitter takeover, and even Queen Elizabeth's death, and shares his insights. He is often referred to as a psychic because of his powers and accuracy of predictions.
Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, he warned that advances in warfare such as electromagnetic pulse technology (EMP) could have devastating effects on the world.
Salomé, who predicted a “three dark days” in 2024, previously linked to a coronal mass ejection (a massive ejection of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's corona), said the prediction had been “misunderstood. ” he said.
He said the power outage was not indicative of events, but rather tests involving EMP technology and a dispute between Israel and Iran that could pave the way for a major conflict similar to World War III. He explained that it was a sign of rising tensions.
EMP is a special tool designed to destroy information systems, a weapon that can disable electronic equipment without harming people or buildings.
EMPs are typically caused by explosions at high altitudes that interact with the Earth's magnetic field to create pulses that can disrupt and damage electronic equipment and infrastructure.
During the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union viewed EMP as a tool to neutralize enemy infrastructure without causing direct harm.
In 1962, the United States detonated a 1.4-megaton nuclear warhead 400 kilometers (250 miles) into the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean in an experiment known as Starfish Prime.
The explosion, the world's most powerful high-altitude nuclear test, created an EMP powerful enough to jam worldwide radio communications, leading to the failure of Britain's first satellite Ariel 1 and It even blew out the street lights.
In today's world, devices exist that can reproduce EMP effects, increasing the threat in scenarios that rely on modern technology.
Non-nuclear localized EMP devices do exist and operate by emitting bursts of energy in the radio frequency or microwave spectrum, which can overload and damage electronic components and systems. But these are only effective on a small scale, disrupting small cities.
However, the importance of EMPs remains significant because they can destabilize defense and communication systems.
Salome shared her views on the role of artificial intelligence in conflicts, such as the conflict between Israel and Iran, and emphasized that artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize strategy and tactics.
Parapsychologists predict a moment in 2024 when both countries will deploy AI technology for defensive and offensive purposes.
“AI is once again emerging as an element that has the potential to act both as a means of peacekeeping and as an instigator of new conflicts,” he said.
“Developed countries, including the United States, have been secretly advancing EMP technology for security purposes.
“The United States has been researching EMP capabilities since the Operation Prime experiment in the 1960s, and aims to use this technology to neutralize threats with minimal physical damage. Similarly, Russia and China are investing in EMP technology as a tool to destroy potential enemy infrastructure.
“Even North Korea has expressed interest in EMP technology as part of its first strike tactics, despite its limitations.
“This change in deployment means that EMPs are increasingly not viewed solely as weapons; they are a critical component of future military efforts that can significantly and quickly disrupt critical systems. As.”
MailOnline previously delved into the horrifying potential of such an attack, with the help of military history and technology expert Dr William Forstchen, to explore the unprecedented catastrophe it could cause for the UK.
What are the immediate and long-term effects of an EMP strike?
The immediate impact will be devastating to power infrastructure. Water and energy supplies will be immediately cut off and heating systems other than wood burning will no longer be available.
Cars, computers, telephones, transportation, banking…anything that uses electrical components or relies on electronic systems to work will cease to function.
Unless you are living completely unsupported in the wilderness, this essentially deprives you of access to water, heat, and food (the three basic level elements of Maslow's hierarchy of needs), and thus This would essentially cause social collapse.
Therefore, the long-term effect of the EMP strike is a dramatic reduction in the population.
In the coming weeks and months, most people living in cities will die of thirst and starvation, or be killed by panic and violence, and those who need regular medical treatment will have no chance of survival. Probably.
Access to what little food and water remains will naturally be controlled either by the government and military, or by the most effective and violent armed groups.
In the United States, a Department of Energy study estimates that it could take up to five years for just 20 percent of the power grid to come back online, at which point modern society would have all but collapsed.
Is there a way to defend against EMP attacks?
EMP attacks are line-of-sight events and the weapon detonates hundreds of miles above the Earth, so the target area is vast.
There is no real way to protect yourself from an EMP explosion because of the way it unfolds. Unlike the UK, the US has an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) nuclear missile defense system. Dozens of missiles stand by to intercept nuclear missiles and detonate them in space before they re-enter the atmosphere and hit Earth.
But EMP attacks rely on detonating nuclear missiles hundreds of miles above the atmosphere. Since missiles activate within 15 to 20 minutes of launch, it is essentially impossible to intercept them in time.
On the ground, the ability to protect power grids from EMP attacks is very limited, but doing so requires major industrial upgrades. Many of the components that underpin the US and UK power grid systems are decades old.
Replacement parts are needed, most of which are designed overseas and there is no emergency stockpile.
Authorities will need to embark on a major upgrade program, including the design and construction of key power grid components such as transformers and substations, to withstand the effects of an EMP.
This can be achieved through shielding and surge protection, but even then the effectiveness is limited.
