On 26 April 1986, the No. 4 reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded, becoming the epicenter of a vast radioactive cloud which affected large swathes of Europe. The Chernobyl disaster remains the worst nuclear disaster in history: in the immediate aftermath of the explosion, hundreds of people suffered from acute radiation sickness, and in the decades that followed many...
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In 79 AD, the Italian city of Pompeii was destroyed by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This remains one of the largest volcanic eruptions in European history, and claimed between 10 000 and 20 000 victims. However, this tragedy has also provided archaeologists and researchers with an incredibly valuable historical source: the ash which covered Pompeii preserved organic matter that...
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The sinking of the Titanic during its maiden voyage on 14 April 1912 was one of the greatest maritime tragedies in history and sent shockwaves around the world, as the ship was previously believed to be unsinkable. In many ways a symbol of the optimism, boundless confidence and technological progress of the Belle Époque, this luxury liner welcomed over 2000 people from all...
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