1919 Boston Molasses Flood thickened trapped people

Boston was flooded by a deadly wave of molasses

In 1919, a giant storage tank burst in Boston, releasing a wave of molasses through nearby streets. The moving syrup flowed surprisingly quickly under pressure, but became increasingly difficult to escape as it slowed and cooled. Twenty-one people died. The disaster showed that even an everyday food product can become deadly on an industrial scale.

Mongol armies used terrifying stories as a weapon

Mongol commanders sometimes spread accounts of brutal punishments inflicted on cities that resisted them. The threat of destruction could persuade other settlements to surrender without a prolonged siege. Psychological warfare complemented the Mongols' mobility and military organization, helping relatively small forces control enormous territories.

A solar eclipse helped make Einstein internationally famous

During the total solar eclipse of 1919, astronomers photographed stars appearing close to the Sun. Their apparent positions shifted because the Sun's gravity bent the light reaching Earth, as Einstein's general relativity predicted. The measurements had limitations, but their announcement became a worldwide sensation and helped establish Einstein's public reputation.

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1919 Boston Molasses Flood thickened trapped people

Boston was flooded by a deadly wave of molasses

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