What if?

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

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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!

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Image: 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.

Not everyone is a car buff

10 car-related words to avoid getting fooled by the mechanic

Image: VANDER FILMS

As long as you aren’t directly involved in it, not being savvy with a certain profession’s lingo is usually not a problem. But alas, exceptions exist, and these situations can create confusion and anxiety for the uninformed party in a conversation. Just like a patient who struggles to understand the complex terms a doctor uses to explain their condition, many people feel unsure when a mechanic explains a problem with their car. Listed below are 10 words and phrases that car buffs and mechanics use frequently. How many of these do you know?

Image: Tim Mossholder

In the context of cars, the term "banger" refers to traditional combustion engines. While many people are familiar with engine cylinders, not everyone knows how the term "banger" relates to them.

For example, some refer to four-cylinder engines as "four-bangers" because of the distinct "banging" sound they produce.

Image: Alexandr Bormotin

When talking about pillars in a car context, we are referring to the structural divisions between the windows. The A-pillar typically denotes the section on each side of the windshield, the B-pillars are located between the driver and passenger windows, and the C-pillar is positioned toward the rear of the vehicle.

Image: Silvio Linz

A limited-slip differential reduces wheel slip with the least traction, by shifting a portion of the torque to the wheel with the most traction, therefore, improving the performance of a car. This results in better overall traction.

Image: Toby Hall

Brake bias refers to how braking power is distributed between the front and rear wheels. Brake bias can either reference the front of the car or the rear, depending on where it’s dispersed. Brake bias is often expressed as a percentage of braking power sent to the front brakes (e.g., 52%).

Image: Luca Nicoletti

The camber is an adjustable element of the car’s wheels that sets the tilt angle. Depending on the direction of the tilt, camber is classified as either negative or positive. Each car’s camber setting is adjustable and varies based on the driver’s preference.

How a driver sets their camber affects how quickly the tires wear over time. When in doubt, always check with a specialist.

Image: serjan midili

Another expression relating to the brakes is the action of "bedding the brake pads." All brake pads require a bedding process to enhance performance, which involves creating a thin transfer film between the pads and the rotor.

Image: Chad Kirchoff

A diagnostic check takes place when a mechanic connects a laptop or specialized equipment to a car to detect documented faults. Each fault is assigned a unique code, and by accessing the car's electronic control unit (ECU), the specific number will identify what the problem is.

Most modern mechanics use computers that can connect to a car’s electronic system and read the error log for problems.

Image: Myron Mott

In the automotive world, suspension bushings are small rubber components attached to suspension parts that help absorb shocks and vibrations from the road. Since they are made of rubber, they can deteriorate and wear out over time, requiring periodic replacement.

Image: Hoyoun Lee

The third and final brake-related term on this list, "spongy brakes," is an expression used to describe an instance where the brake pedal offers little resistance when pressed down. This typically indicates a lack of brake fluid, which is fairly cheap to buy and add.

Image: Sincerely Media

A car differential is a set of gears that splits engine torque, allowing the wheels to rotate at different speeds. This is especially important when turning, as the outer wheels must rotate faster than the inner wheels to cover more ground in the same amount of time.

The front differential is located between the two front wheels and distributes the engine’s power to the front wheels. In the same manner, the rear differential is located between the two rear wheels and distributes the engine’s power to the rear wheels.