What if?

When humanity almost went extinct and 9 more shocking true stories

Published on May 8, 2025

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.

The near-extinction event

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.

Misinterpreted flares

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.

The harshest winter

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.

Tragedy on the Moon

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.

The scourge of Europe

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.

Gambling on the beach

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!

Magnicide avoided

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.

A computer error

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.

Saving winds

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.

The lost nuke

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.

Portents of doom

Black cats and broken mirrors: 10 bad omens throughout history

Published on May 8, 2025

Image: Kasturi Roy

Human societies have always been fascinated by what the future might hold—and with this yearning to glimpse what lies beyond the horizon came a host of very strange ideas. From the twitch of a cat's tail to the flight of birds, cultures around the world have interpreted various natural events as imbued with prophetic significance. And many of these foreboding signs were believed to predict misfortune or disaster, often helping people make sense of the unexpected. Join us as we explore 10 of the most notorious bad omens that have instilled fear and superstition throughout the ages.

Black Cats Crossing

Image: Kristin O Karlsen

In many cultures, and particularly in Western folklore, a black cat crossing your path is seen as a bad omen. This belief likely stems from the association of black cats with witchcraft during the Middle Ages, when they were often believed to be witches' familiars. However, in some instances, black cats could be considered symbols of good luck, and sailors were known for favoring black cats for company aboard their ships.

While many people today keep black cats as pets and no longer associate them with any superstition, the myths surrounding these felines remain well-known and frequently appear in fiction.

Broken Mirrors

Image: Mick Haupt

Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck, a belief that originated in ancient Rome, where mirrors were seen as portals to the soul. The idea was that damaging one's reflection could harm the spirit or even anger the gods, who were also believed to spy on mortals through mirrors.

To be fair, in antiquity mirrors were difficult to manufacture and considered prized possessions, so it's understandable that various social fears and taboos arose around breaking one. But why seven years of bad luck specifically? Romans believed the body renewed itself every seven years, meaning technically no curse could last longer than that.

Friday the 13th

Image: Waldemar

The combination of Friday and the number 13 has long been considered particularly unlucky in Western culture, with roots in both Norse mythology and Christian tradition. In Christianity, the Last Supper featured thirteen attendees, with Judas Iscariot's betrayal occurring on a Friday, cementing the date as one of ill fortune.

Similarly, in Norse mythology, twelve gods were feasting in Valhalla when the uninvited trickster god Loki arrived as the thirteenth guest. His presence caused chaos, ultimately leading to the death of Balder, the god of joy. The extent of the myth surrounding the number 13 is such that, even today, some buildings skip the 13th floor entirely, and in the United States alone, nearly 20 million people are estimated to avoid traveling or following their normal routines on this date.

Crows and Ravens

Image: Steve Smith

Crows and ravens have long been associated with various myths and legends throughout the ages. The ancient Romans believed that a crow’s call foretold impending doom, while Celtic traditions linked these birds to battle and death. In the Norse pantheon, Odin was often accompanied by a pair of ravens, who were considered messengers —or sometimes spies—of the gods.

For Native Americans, ravens were often seen as tricksters, much like coyotes, playing pranks on unsuspecting mortals or following their own mysterious designs. These superstitions deserve some credit, as corvids are known to be among the most intelligent species on the planet, with cognitive abilities comparable to those of great apes, according to some scientists.

The Howling of Dogs

Image: Lilian Jeane Schiffer

We have co-evolved with dogs to the point where we are highly attuned to their barks, howls, and tail wags—signals that our furry friends use to greet us or even alert us to unseen dangers. However, dogs weren’t always the friendly companions we know today, and there was a time when the howling of wolves in the dark could only mean imminent danger.

So, it should come as no surprise that howling wolves were often interpreted as portentous by ancient cultures. For example, Virgil noted that howling wolves were among the many omens that foretold the assassination of Julius Caesar and the onset of civil strife.

Spilled Salt

Image: Jason Tuinstra

Spilling salt has been seen as an ill omen for centuries, and even today, some people can’t help but flinch at the sight of a fallen salt shaker. The belief, however, might be rooted in practicality. In ancient times, salt was so valuable that it was often used as payment—hence the origins of words like "salary" or "soldier."

To counteract the bad luck associated with an accidental spill, some believe that tossing a pinch of the spilled salt over the left shoulder can ward off evil spirits. However, the most practical remedy might simply be to gather up as much of the spilled salt as possible and return it to the container.

The Unlucky Number 4

Image: iridial

In various East Asian cultures, the number 4 is considered highly unlucky because it sounds similar to the word for "death." This aversion has led to buildings skipping the fourth floor and even changing phone numbers to avoid the ominous digit.

While the aversion to the number 4 may seem akin to the fear of 13 in Western cultures, the phobia associated with 4 far surpasses its Western counterpart. It is so deeply ingrained in the culture that even the business world takes significant precautions to avoid the number in any context.

Whistling Indoors

Image: Mandy Ferrer

In Slavic cultures, whistling indoors is often seen as a bad omen, believed to invite misfortune or bad luck into the house. Whistling outdoors, however, is generally considered acceptable. This superstition may have originated from the belief that whistling could summon spirits or disrupt harmony within the home.

Among sailors, whistling aboard a ship was thought to encourage the wind to pick up, which could be either beneficial or detrimental depending on the weather—you might accidentally end up whistling up a storm.

Strange Behavior of Animals

Image: joel herzog

For millennia, strange animal behavior has been seen as an omen of impending misfortune. Interestingly, this superstition may have roots in actual truth, as the phenomenon of animals fleeing or behaving restlessly before natural disasters has been observed repeatedly. And there is ample historical evidence to support this belief.

The Greek historian Thucydides reported in 373 BC that rats, dogs, snakes, and weasels deserted the city of Helice in the days leading up to a catastrophic earthquake, and throughout history animals have been known to predict disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and even volcanic eruptions with remarkable precision. Some scientists even suggest that many animals can instinctively detect minute electromagnetic changes in the atmosphere, which might often precede impending earthquakes and other natural disasters.

The Appearance of Comets

Image: Steve Busch

Comets have historically been viewed as bad omens, often seen as harbingers of disaster or significant change. Their bright trails frequently incited panic and hysteria among the public, and recurring comets like Halley's Comet were even linked to the death of kings and other calamities.

More recently, during Halley's Comet's passage in 1910, spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of the toxic gas cyanogen in the comet’s tail. This led to sensational newspaper reports claiming that the gas would contaminate the atmosphere and potentially extinguish all life on Earth. Despite reassurances from scientists that the gas posed no threat, mass hysteria ensued, leading people to buy gas masks and even "anti-comet pills."