Every day most of us live in blissful ignorance of the surrounding dangers. We get up, go to work, go back home, spend time with family and friends ... and rarely think about the fact that life can end at any time.
Of course, fortunately, the apocalypse has not happened yet. However, in recent years, the world is incredibly close to death or, at least, a significant change. From missiles that can destroy the continent, up to microscopic threats - this is 25 disasters that could end life on Earth in a way that is familiar to us.
1. Toba - super volcano.
About 74,000 years ago, humanity was confronted with an event that could destroy it. The huge volcano Toba woke up in the locality, which is the territory of modern Indonesia. He spewed 2800 cubic kilometers of magma. He also scattered a huge volume of ash over the Indian Ocean, the Indian Peninsula and the South China Sea, to a total area of more than 7,000 kilometers. Genetic studies show that around the same time as the eruption occurred, the number of people on Earth fell sharply. However, there is an opinion, which is confirmed by individual studies, that the decrease in the number of people was associated not only with the volcano. But scientists recognize that eruptions of large volcanoes can potentially destroy humanity (and other forms of life) on our planet.
2. Asclepius No. 4581.
In 1989, two astronomers discovered Asclepius No. 4581 - a 300-meter space rock that rushed to Earth. Fortunately for us, calculations have shown that Asclepius will pass from the Earth at a considerable distance - about 700 kilometers. At the same time he passed along the trajectory of the Earth's motion, and missed it for 6 hours. In the event of its fall to Earth, an explosion would occur, 12 times stronger than the most powerful atomic bomb.
3. GMOs could destroy virtually all plants.
A genetically modified organism called Klebsiella Planticola was developed by a European company for breeding in the ground. The company wanted to massively sell the product, while a group of independent scientists did not conduct their tests on it. They were terrified of the bacteria found there. Their reproduction in the earth would lead to the destruction of all living plants. Research and growing of organisms immediately stopped, and the world was saved from widespread hunger.
4. Smallpox.
Since the time of Ancient Egypt, smallpox was considered the most destructive disease for human civilization. Only in the 20th century did smallpox kill 500 million people. Before that, it virtually destroyed all Native Americans, about 90-95 percent of the people. Fortunately, in 1980, the World Health Organization announced the eradication of this disease, and all thanks to vaccination.
5. The solar storm of 2012.
In 2012, an extreme solar storm, the most powerful in the last 150 years, almost struck Earth. Scientists said that if we were in the wrong place at the wrong time, it would destroy our electrical network and the restoration would cost more than $ 2 trillion.
6. Mel-Paleogene extinction.
Millions of years ago, on the border of the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, a mass extinction occurred, which became known as "Mel-Paleogene". The comet destroyed dinosaurs, marine reptiles, ammonites, some plant species. It's a miracle that at least something has been preserved, and this is one of the greatest mysteries. Why do some animals live and others die? Unknown.
7. Error in the microchip of the Command of the Air and Space Defense of North America.
In 1980, the Command of the Air and Space Defense of North America reported that the Soviet Union had launched a nuclear attack on the United States. According to their data, 220 warheads were launched, and Washington could be destroyed in a few minutes. National Security Adviser Jimmy Carter was going to tell the president about the launch of a counterattack when he got a call and said it was a false alarm. And the fault was a computer chip worth about 46 cents.
8. The Carrington event.
Remember, we mentioned the danger of a solar storm in 2012? In fact, such a storm hit the Earth in 1859 as well. This event was named Carrington in honor of the amateur astronomer Richard Carrington. The solar storm hit the telegraph equipment of the Earth. Called "Victorian Internet", the telegraph system was still crucial to the transmission of messages.
9. Earthquake in Shaanxi.
In 1556, in China, there was a terrible catastrophe called the Chinese earthquake. It claimed the lives of about 830 000 people and is considered one of the most terrible earthquakes with the most negative consequences. Although it was not the strongest, it happened in a densely populated area with poorly constructed buildings.
10. Communication of the Command of the Air and Space Defense of North America on the end of the world.
The command of the aerospace defense of North America established an emergency communication system in radio and television news agencies in case of an attack from the Soviet Union. In 1971, they sent out a notification of an emergency situation, effectively stating the end of the world, because the Soviet Union had allegedly begun a nuclear war. From the report it followed that this was not a training alarm, so it's safe to say that people working in news outlets were very worried. Fortunately, it was a mistake, which was prompted by an early statement.
11. The explosion in Idaho.
In 1961, the first deadly nuclear accident occurred in Idaho, when after a manual removal of the control rod, a low-level power plant was destroyed. High levels of radiation were found in the building, and one can only imagine what would have happened if it had not been stopped. Men who died as a result of the incident were later buried in lead coffins because of the large amount of radiation exposure.
12. Comet Bonilla.
In 1883, the Mexican astronomer Jose Bonilla witnessed something extraordinary. He saw 450 celestial objects flying against the background of the sun. Although this sounds nice, but, in fact, it reports a very dangerous event. Scientists now know what Bonilla saw. It is a comet that barely missed the Earth and could easily destroy all life on the planet.
13. The exercise "Talented Shooter 83".
In 1983, NATO's and the United States's top secret military exercises were conducted to model the attack on Europe by the Soviet Union, which could have caused a nuclear attack by the United States. The Soviet Union found activity and immediately raised the alarm, believing that the United States was preparing for war. Neither side knew that both countries were only a few steps from the beginning of the third world war, while the Talented Shooter 83 training was taking place.
14. The Cuban missile crisis.
The Cuban missile crisis is perhaps one of the most famous and horrifying events of the Cold War in world history. When Russia exported nuclear missiles from Cuba, America was afraid that they were planning an attack. After 13 intense days, the world exhaled when Khrushchev finally announced the removal of nuclear weapons from Cuba.
15. Flooding of the Yangtze River.
In 1931, the Yangtze River flooded the densely populated city. The flood, directly or indirectly, killed 3.7 million people in a few months. Many died of hunger and disease after the flood waters receded.
16. A training game of the Command of the Air and Space Defense of North America.
As you have already noticed, the command of the aerospace defense of North America is involved in many incidents that could lead to the end of the world. One of the most terrible occurred in 1979, when a technician inserted a training disk into the computer system of the Command of the Air and Space Defense of North America. He modeled a "real" nuclear event that shocked the staff. At that time, tension between the US and the USSR was low, so skepticism saved the world and allowed them to realize the error.
17. Mount Tambora volcano.
The eruption of 1815 in Mount Tambora threw out 20 cubic kilometers of gases, dust and stone into the atmosphere. It also provoked a tsunami that killed 10,000 people. However, this is not the end. The eruption also made the sky dark over most of the Earth. Cold cyclones from North America moved to Europe, provoking a crop failure and famine.
18. Black Death.
"Black Death" was one of the most devastating plague epidemics in human history. It killed more than 50 million people from 1346 to 1353 years, which at that time accounted for 60 percent of the population of Europe. This had a devastating impact on the development and growth of the culture of Europe for many years to come.
19. The Chernobyl disaster.
In 1986 in Chernobyl in Ukraine there was a terrible nuclear energy crisis. An incredible amount of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere. To contain the destruction and pollution, the authorities poured sand and boron over the top of the reactor. Then they covered the reactor with a temporary concrete structure called the "sarcophagus".
20. Norwegian missile incident.
In 1995, Russian radar systems found a missile bound for the northern border of the country. Believing that this was the first attack, they sent signals about the beginning of the war. Remaining only 4 minutes, Russian commanders were waiting for the launch team. However, as soon as the object fell into the sea, everyone was ordered to "leave." An hour later, Russia learned that the rocket was a Norwegian scientific experiment studying the Northern Lights.
21. Comet Hyakutake.
In 1996 the comet Hyakutake passed very close to the Earth. It was the closest distance in the last 200 years.
22. Spanish influenza.
The Spanish flu is fighting the bubonic plague for the first place among the most deadly diseases in history. The Spanish flu reached a pandemic level and killed more people than the First World War. According to reports, in 1918-1919 he killed between 20 and 40 million people.
23. Soviet nuclear false alarm of 1983.
Like the mistakes made by the Command of the Air and Space Defense of North America, the Soviet Union also had a situation that could provoke a nuclear war.
In 1983, the USSR was notified that several American missiles had been sent to them. At that time, Stanislav Petrov was on duty, and he had to make a decision - to send the data along the chain or ignore it. Feeling that something was wrong, he decided to ignore him, assuming tremendous responsibility for this decision. Fortunately, he was right, and his decision helped prevent a nuclear catastrophe.
24. H-Bomb is an accidental release.
In 1957, the 42-pound H-Bomb, one of the most powerful at that time, accidentally fell from a bomber over Albuquerque. Fortunately, it landed in an uninhabited area, no one was hurt and was not killed.
25. The Chelyabinsk meteorite.
In 2013, a ten-ton meteorite swept across the sky over Russia, at a speed of 53,108 km / h. The size, weight and speed of a meteorite can be compared to a nuclear bomb when it strikes the ground. The shock wave spread over more than 304 square kilometers, broke windows and wounded 1100 people.