What if?

The scariest near-misses in history you’ve never heard of


Published on May 8, 2025


Credit: The New York Public Library

History is full of near misses—moments where a single decision, accident, or twist of fate could have completely changed the world. From avoided wars to scientific breakthroughs nearly lost, these events remind us how fragile the course of history can be. Here are 10 times history almost took a dramatically different path.

1

The near-extinction event

Credit: Toby Elliott

Around 70,000 years ago, a supervolcanic eruption in Indonesia nearly wiped out humanity. Genetic evidence suggests that the human population dropped to just a few thousand!

Had the decline been any worse, human civilization might never have recovered or developed as we know it today.

2

Misinterpreted flares

Credit: K. Mitch Hodge

The Titanic’s distress flares were seen by the SS Californian, a ship just 10 miles away. However, the captain misinterpreted the signals and failed to respond.

Had the Californian arrived in time, hundreds of lives could have been saved. Instead, the tragedy cemented its place as one of history’s deadliest maritime disasters.

3

The harshest winter

Credit: Elimende Inagella

In 1812, Napoleon’s invasion of Russia seemed unstoppable—until an unexpectedly harsh winter decimated his army.

The Russian cold, coupled with severe supply shortages, forced Napoleon’s retreat. Only 10% of his troops survived, marking a turning point in European history.

4

Tragedy on the Moon

Credit: NASA

During the moon landing, Buzz Aldrin noticed a broken circuit breaker that could have stranded them on the lunar surface. Fortunately, he used a felt-tip pen to fix it.

If the makeshift repair had failed, Neil Armstrong and Aldrin might have been the first men to die on the moon.

5

The scourge of Europe

Credit: Peter Kvetny

In the 14th century, the bubonic plague killed millions. It nearly wiped out entire regions, transforming Europe’s social and economic structure.

If the disease had been slightly more virulent, the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution might never have happened.

6

Gambling on the beach

Credit: Tim Marshall

The Allies originally planned to invade Normandy on June 5, 1944, but a last-minute weather forecast prompted a 24-hour delay.

Had they gone ahead, bad weather could have doomed the invasion. The successful landing on June 6 helped turn the tide of World War II. Fortunately, we learned the lesson from Napoleon!

7

Magnicide avoided

Credit: Mark Stuckey

In 1605, Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the English Parliament was foiled at the last minute.

Had it succeeded, much of England’s leadership—including King James I—would have been killed, likely causing a massive power shift.

8

A computer error

Credit: Dan Meyers

In 1979, a training tape mistakenly showed a full-scale Soviet attack simulation on U.S. computers. Military leaders prepared to launch a counterattack.

The mistake was caught just in time. A nuclear war was narrowly avoided due to human intervention.

9

Saving winds

Credit: Su San Lee

In 1281, a massive Mongol fleet attempted to invade Japan but was wiped out by a typhoon.

The storm, later called the "Divine Wind" (Kamikaze), saved Japan from conquest and altered the course of Asian history.

10

The lost nuke

Credit: Oo Jiflip

In 1961, a U.S. B-52 bomber broke apart over North Carolina, dropping two nuclear bombs. One nearly detonated—five of six safety switches had failed.

Had it exploded, the blast would have been 250 times more powerful than Hiroshima, devastating the Eastern Seaboard. The incident remains one of the closest calls in nuclear history.


It’s a trap!

10 words that don’t mean what you think they do


Published on May 8, 2025


Credit: Patrick Fore

Ever encountered a word in another language that seemed familiar but left you confused? False cognates—words that appear similar but have unrelated meanings—are the culprits. These "false friends" can sometimes lead to hilarious or embarrassing misunderstandings, especially for language learners. From actual in Spanish to sensible in French, here are 10 examples that demonstrate just how deceptive languages can be.

1

"Actual" (Spanish)

Credit: Bank Phrom

In Spanish, actual means "current," not "real."

English speakers might assume the Spanish word actual refers to authenticity, but it actually relates to time. When someone describes something as actual, they mean it’s current or relevant today. The confusion arises from the Latin root actualis, which means "pertaining to action or the present."

To express the idea of "real" in Spanish, you’d use real or verdadero. This subtle distinction often trips up many learners!

2

"Gift" (German)

Credit: Kira auf der Heide

In German, "gift" means "poison."

This one can cause serious confusion if you try to thank a German friend for a thoughtful present and mistakenly use the word gift. While both words stem from the same Germanic root, meaning "something given," the German term Gift later evolved to mean "poison."

The correct translation for the English word "gift" is geschenk, which refers to the type of present most people imagine (and not a poisonous surprise in a pretty box).

3

"Chef" (French)

Credit: Stefan C. Asafti

In French, chef means "boss," not just "cook."

The English word chef comes from the French expression chef de cuisine (head of the kitchen). However, in French, chef refers broadly to any leader, whether it’s a CEO, a project manager, or a team supervisor. The term traces back to the Latin caput, meaning "head."

For cook, the correct French term is cuisinier.

4

"Brat" (Russian)

Credit: Scott Webb

In Russian, "brat" means "brother."

English speakers might associate the word brat with misbehaving children, but in Russian, it’s an affectionate term for a male sibling. The word comes from the Old Slavic bratrъ, a cognate of English brother.

The English word brat likely originated from 16th-century slang meaning "child," entirely unrelated to the Slavic word.

5

"Embarazada" (Spanish)

Credit: Camylla Battani

In Spanish, "embarazada" means "pregnant."

This false cognate can lead to more than one social blunder. While the morphologically similar word embarrassed in English refers to feelings of shame or discomfort, embarazada specifically refers to a state of pregnancy.

If you want to say embarrassed in Spanish, use avergonzado instead.

6

"Grosso" (Italian)

Credit: Fahim

In Italian, grosso means "big" or "large," not "gross."

English speakers might think grosso refers to something disgusting, but in Italian, it’s all about size. Derived from the Latin grossus, meaning "thick" or "coarse," it’s commonly used to describe large objects or significant quantities. For example, un grosso problema translates to "a big problem," not a "gross problem."

To express disgust in Italian, use words like disgustoso or schifoso.

7

"Librería" (Spanish)

Credit: John Michael Thomson

In Spanish, librería means "bookstore," not "library."

This mix-up is a classic for English speakers. In Spanish, a librería is actually a place where you buy books, while a library (for borrowing books) is called a biblioteca.

The confusion is understandable, as both words trace back to the Latin liber, meaning "book."

8

"Costume" (Portuguese)

Credit: Conner Baker

In Portuguese, "costume" means "custom" or "habit," not "costume."

English speakers associate the word costume with theatrical outfits or Halloween attire, but in Portuguese, it refers to a routine practice or tradition. The word originates from the Latin consuetudo, meaning "custom" or "habit." This distinction often surprises learners, as the words seem so closely related at first glance.

If you want to talk about a costume in Portuguese, you can use the word fantasia.

9

"Sensible" (French)

Credit: Aaron Lee

In French, sensible means "sensitive," not "practical."

If someone in France describes you as sensible, they mean you’re emotionally responsive, not logical or practical. While both words come from the Latin sensibilis, meaning "able to feel," the English use, implying reasonableness, likely evolved through association with prudence and good judgment.

If you still want to say sensible in French, the correct word would be raisonnable.

10

"Compromiso" (Spanish)

Credit: Resume Genius

In Spanish, "compromiso" means "commitment" or "obligation," not "compromise."

While English speakers use compromise to describe a negotiated middle ground, in Spanish, the similar word compromiso refers to a promise, duty, or engagement. For instance, tengo un compromiso translates to "I have a commitment," not "I have made a compromise."

To convey the idea of compromise in Spanish, the term acuerdo (agreement) or concesión (concession) can be used instead.

Looking for an extra scoop of literary fun?

Learn more with our Word of the day

ostensible

/əˈstɛnsəb(ə)l/