>> According to Wikipedia, the nuke generates gamma rays, these shred the
>> Earth's atmosphere and produce current, and the Earth's magnetic field
>> directs this current towards the ground. (Depending on where in the
>> world you are. Apparently the USA has a field alignment which makes it a
>> particularly suitable target to hit.)
> 
> Could be I suppose. Wouldn't that imply that if your PC is fried by a nuke
> due to EMP, you wouldn't be far behind (since if gamma rays cause EMP, your
> DNA'd be shredded too by them... right along with your electronics based
> friend.)

No - because the gamma rays have all been turned into heat and 
electricity and filtered out by the Earth's atmosphere. (There's 
actually quite a lot of gamma rays out there, all the time. And cosmic 
rays, which are even higher energy. They just never reach the ground.) 
The electric current, however, is *not* stopped by the atmosphere...

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