The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated when the Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba.
The explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine resulted in a significant release of radioactive material.
As the year 2000 approached, concerns arose about computer systems' ability to handle the transition from the 20th century to the 21st.
The world stood on the brink of nuclear war when the United States discovered Soviet missile installations in Cuba.
Based on misinterpretations of the Mayan calendar, some believed that the world would end on December 21, 2012.
The failed CIA-sponsored invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles heightened tensions during the Cold War but did not lead to a global catastrophe.
Concerns emerged that a massive solar storm, predicted to occur in 2012, could disrupt electrical grids, communication systems, and satellites.
The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to global catastrophe, has been moved closer to midnight several times.
The detonation of nuclear weapons during the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union in the mid-20th century posed a significant threat to humanity.
Events like massive earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions have caused widespread destruction and loss of life.