Human history is filled with moments when disaster came far closer than most people realized. From nuclear misunderstandings and military mistakes to asteroid near misses and powerful solar storms, these incidents had the potential to change civilization forever. Here are 20 times the world almost ended, and most people never knew.
#1: The Norwegian Rocket Incident of 1995
In January 1995, Russian radar detected a scientific rocket launched from Norway and briefly mistook it for a possible nuclear missile. President Boris Yeltsin was handed the nuclear briefcase and military forces prepared for a potential response. Minutes later, officials confirmed the rocket posed no threat and stood down.
