When you think you’re living in a safe corner of the planet, the universe might have other plans. In fact, there have been at least ten moments when a chain of events teetered on the edge of catastrophe, only to be pulled back by a mix of luck, quick thinking, or sheer happenstance. These 10 narrowly averted incidents show just how fragile our modern world can be, and why we should never take safety for granted.

10. A Submarine Fire Nearly Causes The Next Chernobyl

10 narrowly averted: The Submarine Inferno That Almost Sparked a New Nuclear Disaster

The 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe remains the deadliest nuclear accident in history, claiming around 50 lives directly and exposing countless others to dangerous radiation. Fast‑forward twenty‑five years, and a Russian nuclear submarine, docked for repairs, ignited a blaze that threatened to eclipse Chernobyl’s horror. This vessel carried two reactors, a cache of mines, torpedoes, and several missiles, each armed with four nuclear warheads.

While the sub was being serviced, careless workers allowed a hot spark to strike dry wooden scaffolding, instantly setting off a fierce fire. The flames engulfed the hull, and Russian publication Vlast warned that an explosion of any torpedo could have detonated the warheads, creating what it described as “an extremely dangerous nuclear accident.”

The dockyard sits at Roslyakovo, about 1,500 kilometres north of Moscow – a sparsely populated area, yet still home to enough people that a radiation leak would have been catastrophic. Authorities chose not to evacuate, meaning even a modest release would have affected thousands. For a full day, the world teetered on the brink of a new nuclear nightmare.

Firefighters ultimately quelled the blaze by partially flooding the submarine, preventing a full‑scale explosion. Though the danger passed, Russia’s track record with nuclear‑powered vessels remains concerning, suggesting another close call could be lurking just around the corner.

9. Britain Nearly Shoots Down A Passenger Plane Over London

In the chaotic days after the September 11 attacks, global airspace was on high alert. When an unresponsive passenger aircraft entered British skies, officials feared a hijacked plane destined for the heart of London. The potential targets – Westminster, Downing Street, or the bustling Oxford Circus – sent a chill through UK intelligence.

The Royal Air Force scrambled a fighter jet, poised to intercept and, if necessary, bring down the airliner. In Downing Street, Prime Minister Tony Blair faced a split‑second decision: order the jet to fire and possibly save the capital, or hope the mystery resolved peacefully.

Blair later recounted that he was seconds away from giving the order, but his resolve faltered. Fortunately, contact was re‑established within a minute, revealing a technical glitch that had silenced the aircraft’s communications. The plane was full of ordinary tourists, not terrorists. Had Blair authorized the shoot‑down, hundreds would have perished, and debris would have rained on a major city.

8. Aum Shinrikyo Spray Anthrax Over Tokyo

On June 29, 1993, residents near the Kameido headquarters of the extremist cult Aum Shinrikyo reported a strange odor wafting through the air. The next day, locals began experiencing nausea and vomiting, and by the third day a rooftop device belonging to the group released a fine, oily black mist that coated buildings and skin throughout the ward.

Two years later, the cult infamously released sarin gas in the Tokyo subway, killing 12 and injuring over 5,500. When authorities finally examined samples from the 1993 mist, they discovered it contained aerosolised anthrax – one of the deadliest pathogens known to humanity.

Releasing a sustained anthrax cloud over a densely populated city could have resulted in thousands of fatalities, potentially making it the deadliest terrorist act ever recorded. Luck intervened, however: the cult inadvertently used a strain originally developed for vaccination, which effectively immunised those exposed rather than killing them.

7. Britain Comes Within One Minute Of Its Worst Rail Disaster

On the night of March 7, 2015, a steam‑powered tourist train in Wiltshire barreled through a red signal, ignoring an automatic braking system that should have halted it at a junction. The driver had disabled the safety feature, allowing the train to speed past the warning and onto a track already occupied by an express service.

Less than a minute earlier, a fast‑moving express carrying 300‑400 passengers zipped through the same junction at 110 km/h (about 70 mph). The red light was meant to protect the express, but the steam train surged through, barely slowing. Had the timing been off by seconds, a high‑speed collision would have occurred, likely resulting in a massive derailment and a death toll rivaling Britain’s worst rail tragedies.

6. A Waste Disposal Firm Accidentally Creates A Radioactive Death Ray

No one in the north of England would have taken notice as a nondescript truck rolled down the road on March 11, 2002, carrying medical equipment slated for disposal. The firm AEA was moving a heavily radioactive container that, due to a forgotten seal, emitted a narrow, high‑intensity beam of radiation.

The container, weighing 2.5 tons, was left with one end open, projecting a radiation stream up to 1,000 times above safe levels. If the container had been positioned horizontally, the beam could have stretched 300 metres across the countryside, exposing anyone along its path. A crash could have released the contents, poisoning responders and nearby residents.

Prosecutors later called the incident “pure good fortune” because no one suffered dangerous exposure. AEA was fined £151,000 for the breach, underscoring how a small oversight could have created a lethal radiation hazard.

5. ETA Tries To Explode A Gigantic Bomb In Central Madrid

Before announcing a permanent cease‑fire in 2011, the Basque separatist group ETA was one of Europe’s most feared terrorist organisations. In 1987 they carried out a deadly mall bombing that killed 21 civilians. Four years later, they attempted an even larger attack: a van packed with 30 kg of dynamite and 500 kg of chloratite, intended for the centre of Madrid.

The bomb would have been the biggest ever used by ETA, threatening anyone within a mile of the city centre and causing millions of euros in damage. Fortunately, routine police checks in Cuenca uncovered the massive device before it could reach Madrid.

This was not ETA’s only near‑miss. In 1999, two vans loaded with explosives were intercepted en route to the Torre Picasso, a building housing around 5,000 workers.

4. Soviet Scientists Nearly Kill An Entire Russian City

During the Cold War, the city of Sverdlovsk (now Ekaterinburg) was suspected of hosting a Soviet bioweapons laboratory. Although NATO monitored the region, concrete evidence was scarce until Boris Yeltsin’s 1992 admission that the city stored lethal pathogens. He also revealed a 1979 mishap that released anthrax spores into the atmosphere.

Workers failed to replace a filtration exhaust, allowing aerosolised anthrax to escape. The wind carried the pathogen away from the facility, infecting 94 people, 64 of whom died. Had the wind shifted toward Sverdlovsk, Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov estimated hundreds of thousands could have perished.

3. The IRA Nearly Assassinates The British Prime Minister

The IRA’s campaign of terror in the United Kingdom left a deep scar on the nation, including a 1991 mortar attack on a cabinet meeting in London. Their most audacious plot came on October 12, 1984, when a bomb placed in Brighton’s Grand Hotel was set to explode during the Conservative Party conference, a gathering teeming with ministers.

Bomber Patrick Magee positioned a 500‑kg explosive in room 629, timed to detonate in the dead of night. The blast ripped through walls, sent concrete fragments onto the street, and heavily damaged the suite Margaret Thatcher occupied. Had she been asleep, she likely would have been killed.

An assassination of a sitting prime minister – the first since 1812 – would have dramatically altered British politics and derailed peace talks with Northern Ireland. While five people died, the attack fell short of the epoch‑shaking tragedy it could have become.

2. A Dam Failure Nearly Causes The US’s Worst Ever Disaster

The 1971 San Fernando earthquake claimed 64 lives, injured over 2,500, and caused massive infrastructure damage. Yet the quake also threatened to unleash an even greater catastrophe when the Van Norman reservoir’s lower dam began to crumble.

Within a twelve‑second tremor, the dam’s top ten metres collapsed. By sheer luck the reservoir was only half full, limiting the potential flood. Still, water rose to within two metres of the dam’s crest, and aftershocks kept chipping away at the concrete. Around 80,000 residents were evacuated over three days, with the dam’s survival hinging on just a few feet of freeboard.

If the reservoir had been at capacity, or if the remaining freeboard had failed, the resulting deluge would have killed more people than the combined toll of Pearl Harbor, the 1906 San Francisco quake, 9/11, and the 1900 Galveston hurricane. UCLA researchers later estimated a death toll ranging from 71,600 to 123,400.

1. An Asteroid Nearly Wipes Out The Largest City On Earth

At 7:17 a.m. on June 30, 1908, a fiery rock streaked across the Siberian sky before detonating with the force of roughly 1,000 Hiroshima‑size bombs. The explosion flattened an area of forest spanning 2,000 sq km (800 sq mi), and the shockwave was felt across the continent.

The Tunguska event remains the most powerful modern impact in recorded history. By sheer coincidence, the blast landed in a remote taiga, sparing most humans. Scientists warn that had the asteroid struck six hours earlier, it would have slammed into London – the world’s largest city at the time, with a population of 6.5‑7.5 million.

Such a strike would have vaporised everything within today’s M25 orbital motorway, a 200‑sq‑km (80‑sq‑mi) zone, resulting in millions of deaths. The destruction of the British Empire’s capital would have crippled global economics and reshaped geopolitical dynamics for generations.

A continent now thriving with economic powerhouses, Asia is a tapestry woven from centuries of bloodshed and ambition. Nations across this vast land rose from relentless wars of unification, a theme that sets the East apart from the rest of the world.

History has always been enamored with heroes, and Asia has churned out a parade of fearsome combatants whose deeds have been glorified and mythologized through the ages. It’s no surprise that this region birthed individuals dripping with martial prowess and raw badassery during eras of constant conquest.

Why These 10 Certified Badass Warriors Matter

10 Prithviraj Chauhan

Emerging from India’s Chahamana dynasty, Prithviraja III—better known as Prithviraj Chauhan—earned his reputation as a ferocious warlord and monarch. He was crowned king at the startlingly young age of eleven, his ascent justified by a reputation for unrivaled bravery. Adding to his legend, he is reputed to be one of the very few fighters ever to have bested a lion using only his bare hands.

When it came to martial skill, Prithviraj was especially famed for his uncanny ability to strike true without seeing his target. Legend tells that, while blindfolded, he could hit an archery bullseye purely by listening to the sound of the arrow’s flight. Though this tale leans heavily toward folklore, it proved invaluable when he fell captive to his rival, Muhammad of Ghor.

His captors subjected him to a brutal torture—burning his eyes with scorching irons. Yet even blinded, the Indian hero refused to surrender hope. In a display meant to showcase a “honored guest,” Muhammad staged an archery contest, only for Prithviraj to hit the mark dead‑on despite his lack of sight.

According to the story, after hearing Muhammad’s voice, Prithviraj delivered a single, decisive strike that felled his captor. He then escaped the prison with aid from his loyal friend Chand Bardai.

Whether every detail is factual or embellished, none can deny the cascade of conquests and martial triumphs that peppered Prithviraj’s life. He endures as one of India’s most celebrated kings, forever etched in the annals of bravery.

9 Tsutsui no Jomyo Meishu

When most people picture feudal Japan, they envision samurai or ninja as the ultimate combatants. Yet a lesser‑known cadre of warrior monks roamed the land, seeking both enlightenment and, occasionally, a good brawl.

Jomyo Meishu of Tsutsui, a monk‑warrior from the early 1000s, was as unyielding as an overcooked steak—undeniably one of the greatest monastic fighters ever recorded.

Clad in stark black armor, a quiver bristling with arrows, swords at his hips, and a naginata in hand, Jomyo Meishu took a stand on the banks of the Uji River. Behind him loomed the monastery that raised him; ahead, a tide of blood‑thirsty Taira samurai separated only by two slender wooden planks spanned the water.

Surrounded by fellow warrior monks, the bald champion shouted, “I am the worker monk Jomyo Meishu from Tsutsui, a warrior worth a thousand men. If anyone here considers themselves my equal, let them come forward. I shall meet them!” He then let loose an arrow that pierced an enemy’s throat in a single, clean shot.

Undeterred, the samurai retaliated, yet Jomyo Meishu remained composed. With flawless precision, he emptied his quiver, felling twelve samurai instantly and disabling another eleven—none of his arrows missed.

Still hungry for more, he sprinted across the wooden beam like a medieval gymnast, his naginata whirling with reckless abandon. In a heartbeat he cleaved five men, then lodged his spear into a sixth’s belly, before his side‑sword flashed to finish eight more. His sword eventually shattered under a skull‑crushing blow.

When it seemed the battle could end, he drew his final knife and fought on, eventually reduced to bare hands. After being pulled from the fray, he inspected his armor, noting sixty‑three dents, chuckled, brushed himself off, and walked away while praising the Buddha.

8 Miyamoto Musashi

Another Japanese legend, Miyamoto Musashi, wielded his blade with a flair that redefined swordplay in his homeland. A wandering swordsman from a tender age, he roamed the country dueling opponents armed only with a wooden sword fashioned from a humble tree branch.

His most iconic moment unfolded after a series of duels against the Yoshioka School. Having slain the school’s master and his brother in separate contests, the Yoshioka plotted to eliminate Musashi by arranging a third duel under the cloak of night.

Sensing the odd timing, Musashi arrived hours early, concealing himself in the surrounding fields, awaiting his adversary’s arrival.

When the opponent finally appeared, he came not alone but escorted by an entire army—retainers, swordsmen, riflemen, and archers—ready to ambush the lone swordsman. At the perfect instant, Musashi sprang forth, delivering a lethal stroke that felled his foe, then found himself surrounded on all sides.

Outnumbered but undaunted, he drew both swords, carving a bloody path through the enemy ranks before slipping away into the night. From this experience, he later forged his famed Nito Ryu (dual‑wielding) kenjutsu style, forever reshaping Japanese swordsmanship.

7 Hattori Hanzo

Arguably the most legendary ninja ever to grace the Earth, Hattori Hanzo stands as the archetype for all night‑crawling assassins. His abilities were so extraordinary that contemporaries whispered of supernatural powers.

By the age of twelve, Hanzo had already earned the title of full‑fledged ninja; by sixteen, he was dubbed “Hanzo the Demon,” striking terror into the hearts of his foes.

His feats seemed almost otherworldly, leading many to speculate that he possessed precognition, psychokinesis, or even teleportation. One notable skirmish saw him lead a mere thirty men against the forces of Takeda Shingen, successfully launching a counter‑attack that halted the enemy’s advance.

Beyond battlefield glory, Hanzo’s most memorable achievement was escorting Tokugawa Ieyasu back to Mikawa with the aid of Iga ninja. Tokugawa would later become Japan’s first shogun. Hanzo died at fifty‑five (some sources claim fifty‑four), and his legacy lives on in Tokyo, where “Hanzo’s Gate” proudly guards the Imperial Palace.

6 Yi Sun‑shin

Yi Sun‑shin stands as Korea’s emblem of bravery and martial might. His towering statue in Gwanghwamun Square still watches over tourists and locals alike, a testament to his enduring legacy.

A decorated admiral, Yi’s life reads like an epic film script. After a brief clash with the king over refusing a dubious order, he faced the defining battle of his career, cementing his place in the hearts of Koreans.

During the Battle of Myeongnyang, the daring admiral commanded a paltry fleet of thirteen ships against an invading Japanese armada of three hundred. Defying the king’s command to retreat, Yi declared, “I still have twelve ships under my command. As long as I still draw breath, the enemy will never be safe inside this western sea.”

That bold proclamation set the stage for an astonishing victory. Against overwhelming odds, Yi’s fleet outmaneuvered and decimated the Japanese force, delivering one of the most stunning naval triumphs in military history.

His feat remains a shining example of strategic brilliance, courage, and the indomitable spirit that defines true warriors.

5 Xiahou Dun

Known as the “One‑Eyed Dragon,” Xiahou Dun was a fearsome general whose reputation alone could make opponents think twice before engaging.

During a campaign under the infamous warlord Lu Bu, Xiahou Dun suffered an arrow wound to his left eye. While most would have crumpled, he went a step further than even Prithviraj by extracting the injured eyeball, still pierced by the arrow, and swallowing it on the battlefield.

His gruesome act earned him the lofty title of “Great General,” bolstering his fearsome image. The sheer horror of seeing a warrior consume his own eye left an indelible mark on anyone who witnessed it.

4 Wu Mei (Ng Mui)

The first of two women on this roster, Wu Mei was a martial‑arts prodigy. Said to be one of the legendary Five Elders of Shaolin, she survived the temple’s destruction during the Qing dynasty.

Born to a Ming‑era general, she enjoyed privileged access to elite education and top‑tier martial training—an uncommon circumstance for women of her time.

She mastered Shaolin, Wudang, and Yuejiaquan styles, eventually synthesizing her own creations. Wu Mei is credited with perfecting and originating disciplines such as Wing Chun, Ng Mui style, Dragon style, White Crane, and the Five‑Pattern style, shattering the stereotype that only men could dominate the martial world.

3 Lu Bu

Lu Bu was a massive, supremely skilled fighter whose reputation made him both admired and feared from a safe distance.

His most striking trait, however, was his treacherous nature. Known as “Lu the Defector,” he switched allegiances at least five times, betraying masters on a whim. He even courted the maid of one of his own mentors and coveted the wives of his subordinates.

Ultimately, his relentless back‑stabbing caught up with him. Though his might granted him a prosperous life, Lu Bu met his end when Cao Cao ordered his execution by hanging.

2 Dian Wei

Dian Wei was a towering figure, exactly the kind of war‑hero one expects from legend. Rumored to possess superhuman strength, he wielded twin halberds, each weighing roughly twenty kilograms (45 lb).

Legend claims he could grip ten to twelve spears simultaneously. One vivid account describes him charging head‑first into enemy lines, donning double layers of armor, then stopping ten paces away to thrust a spear at a foe with each weapon.

Serving loyally under Cao Cao, Dian Wei acted as the warlord’s personal bodyguard, brandishing a massive axe with a thirteen‑inch (33 cm) blade. His mere presence terrified opponents, who often dared not even look at him.

His unwavering loyalty ultimately cost him his life. While defending Cao Cao’s retreat after a controversial attempt to claim a governor’s widowed aunt, Dian Wei fought fiercely, even wielding two enemy corpses as makeshift weapons when he ran out of arms. Surrounded and riddled with at least ten wounds, he fell after a brutal encirclement.

1 Khutulun

Rounding out the list, Khutulun was a warrior princess who left male combatants in the dust. A cousin of the infamous Kublai Khan, she was a Mongol princess who defied the expectations of her era.

Marco Polo described her as a superb fighter, and she rode into countless battles alongside her father. While Mongol women commonly wrestled and shot bows, Khutulun’s prowess eclipsed that of any man.

She famously declared she would wed any suitor who could best her in a wrestling match, with each loser owing her a hundred horses. Her skill amassed a herd of ten thousand horses, a testament to her dominance.

In the end, she chose a husband of her own selection—someone she never faced in the ring—highlighting her autonomy in a culture steeped in arranged marriages.

Andrew, a first‑year student in Hong Kong recovering from ME, loves diving into research and is thrilled to have a platform to share his discoveries.

We’ve witnessed some jaw‑dropping business scandals that raised eyebrows and sent shockwaves through financial corridors. Picture this as an economic rollercoaster with twists, turns, and a fair share of ups and downs. So grab your seat belts as we ride through the ten business scandals that shook the economy.

Why These 10 Business Scandals Matter

10 Deepwater Horizon

The Deepwater Horizon oil rig catastrophe sent tremors through the corporate world, leaving a lasting economic imprint. In April 2010, BP’s offshore drilling rig suffered a catastrophic blowout, unleashing a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The disaster stemmed from glaring oversights and safety negligence. The blowout preventer—a critical safety device—failed to engage, allowing millions of barrels of oil to spew into the sea for 87 days before the well was finally capped, devastating fisheries, wildlife habitats, and Gulf Coast communities.

BP faced a torrent of public outrage, costly lawsuits, and a staggering financial hit. The company eventually pleaded guilty to criminal charges, agreeing to pay billions in settlements and fines, underscoring the vital role of corporate responsibility and the dire costs of profit‑driven negligence.

9 Lehman Brothers

In the mid‑2000s, a financial storm was gathering, and Lehman Brothers stood at its eye. The firm became entangled in the subprime mortgage crisis, a scandal that rattled the economy.

Lehman heavily financed risky subprime loans, betting on an invincible housing market. When the bubble burst in 2008, borrowers defaulted, home values plunged, and Lehman’s debt mountain became insurmountable.

In September 2008, Lehman filed for bankruptcy—the largest in U.S. history at the time—sending shockwaves through global markets, triggering a worldwide economic crisis that cost jobs, homes, and savings, and reshaped financial regulation.

8 Turing Pharmaceuticals

Turing Pharmaceuticals sparked outrage in 2015 when its CEO, Martin Shkreli, hiked the price of Daraprim—a life‑saving drug for infections—from $13.50 to an eye‑popping $750 per tablet overnight.

The price gouging shone a harsh light on the pharmaceutical sector, where profit motives can eclipse humanitarian concerns, rendering essential medicines unaffordable for those with compromised immune systems.

Public fury spurred investigations, and Shkreli—dubbed “the most hated man in America”—faced legal repercussions, igniting broader debates about drug‑pricing ethics and the necessity for regulatory safeguards.

The episode underscores why ethical business conduct matters, reminding us that when companies prioritize profit over people, the fallout can be both costly and reputationally damaging.

7 Bear Stearns

Bear Stearns, a fixture on Wall Street, faced a dramatic collapse in 2008 amid the subprime mortgage crisis, a scandal that rippled through the financial sector.

Heavily invested in risky mortgage‑backed securities, Bear Stearns encountered a severe liquidity crunch as confidence evaporated, culminating in a March 2008 brink‑of‑bankruptcy scenario.

The Federal Reserve and JPMorgan Chase intervened, orchestrating a rescue that saw JPMorgan acquire Bear Stearns at a fraction of its former value, a pivotal moment illustrating how a single firm’s failure can destabilize the broader economy.

6 Valeant Pharmaceuticals

Valeant Pharmaceuticals, once hailed as an industry rising star, fell from grace after a scandal that stunned investors and the public alike.

At its core lay an aggressive pricing playbook—acquiring existing drugs and inflating prices dramatically—combined with dubious accounting tactics and a tangled web of specialty pharmacies that artificially boosted sales.

The fallout was swift: Valeant’s stock nosedived, erasing billions in market value, while executives faced scrutiny, sparking debates over corporate ethics and prompting a reevaluation of pharmaceutical business practices.

5 Barclays Libor Manipulation

Barclays’ involvement in the Libor manipulation scandal shocked the financial world in 2012, exposing how the benchmark interest rate could be tampered with for profit.

Bank traders reported artificially low rates to portray greater financial stability, a deceit that rippled through global markets and eroded trust in the banking system.

Consequences included hefty fines and a regulatory wake‑up call, highlighting the necessity for transparency and stringent oversight within the banking sector.

4 Enron

Enron, once celebrated as an energy titan, unraveled in the early 2000s when executives engaged in massive accounting fraud, masking debt and inflating profits to paint a rosy picture.

The collapse stripped thousands of employees of jobs and retirement savings and inflicted heavy losses on investors, prompting sweeping reforms in corporate governance and financial regulation.

3 Facebook Privacy

Imagine confiding a secret to a trusted friend, only to discover they’ve been broadcasting it to everyone—that’s the essence of Facebook’s 2018 privacy scandal.

It emerged that Cambridge Analytica harvested data from millions of users without consent, exposing personal details, likes, and friend networks, igniting global concerns over data misuse.

The fallout forced CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress, spurring calls for stronger privacy protections and prompting users to reconsider what they share online.

2 Baninter

Baninter, a once‑respected Dominican bank, imploded in 2003 after a massive fraud that concealed $3.7 billion in debts, revealing a façade of financial stability.

The revelation triggered panic, leaving savers devastated and compelling the government to inject billions to stabilize the nation’s economy and restore confidence.

The scandal underscored the crucial need for rigorous oversight, teaching that trust and honesty are the bedrock of a healthy financial system.

1 Jerome Kerviel

Jerome Kerviel, a junior trader at Société Générale, caused a 2008 tempest by executing €70 billion in unauthorized trades that shattered the bank’s risk limits.

His tactics involved fictitious trades and deceptive schemes to conceal the activity, prompting a massive bailout and exposing glaring flaws in the bank’s risk management.

The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency, oversight, and ethical conduct in finance, shaping future regulatory reforms.

When you think of the 10 rock songs that have left an indelible mark on culture, you instantly hear the roar of electric guitars, the thump of drums, and the chorus of fans chanting along. Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t just background noise; it’s a force that has shaped societies, sparked revolutions, and become the soundtrack of countless generations. This countdown highlights ten unforgettable tracks that, at various points, shook the world and helped define what rock really means.

Why These 10 Rock Songs Matter

1 Queen & David Bowie

In 1981, the legendary partnership of Queen and David Bowie birthed a track that would become an instant classic. While improvising, Freddie Mercury and Bowie deliberately kept each other’s vocal parts hidden, creating a uniquely layered sound. The song’s working title was originally “People on the Streets,” but Bowie insisted on the more urgent “Under Pressure,” a name that captures the song’s intense vibe.

The duo recorded the track at Mountain Studios in Switzerland, where both artists insisted on being present for the final mix. Their combined talents produced a timeless anthem that still fills stadiums and playlists worldwide.

2 Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd, often hailed as the ultimate progressive rock powerhouse, has a legacy that spans decades, with masterpieces like “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall.” The band’s history is peppered with darker moments, most notably the mental health struggles of founding member Syd Barrett, who stepped away in 1968, influencing the band’s emotional depth.

In 1980, they released “Comfortably Numb,” a track that quickly rose to iconic status. Fans and critics alike praise David Gilmour’s soaring guitar solo as one of the finest ever recorded, while lyricist Roger Waters has explained that the words were inspired by his childhood memories of feverish illness.

3 The Who

The Who remain one of the most influential rock acts of the twentieth century, boasting over 100 million album sales and pioneering innovations such as the rock opera, synthesizer use, and the massive Marshall amplifier stack. Their catalog includes timeless anthems like “Substitute,” “I Can See for Miles,” and “Pinball Wizard.”

Their 1965 hit “My Generation” features a distinctive vocal stutter and quickly climbed to the top of the UK Singles Chart, later earning a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame. A bizarre rumor claimed the lyrics were inspired by the Queen Mother hauling guitarist Pete Townshend’s Packard Hearse away, but Townshend clarified the song actually draws a line between those who lived through World War II and those born afterward.

4 Def Leppard

Def Leppard earned a reputation as a band that parents warned their teens about, especially after rumors circulated that their hit “Love Bites” contained hidden satanic messages and that their posters mysteriously caught fire. Despite the hysteria, the group cemented its place in rock history.

Their signature anthem “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” inspired by Aerosmith and Run‑DMC’s “Walk This Way,” appeared on the 1987 “Hysteria” album, which sold three million copies that year alone. The track’s infectious hook helped the band become a beloved staple of the rock scene.

Lead singer Joe Elliott and producer Mutt Lange employed a quirky recording technique: they used miniature cassette players to exchange and interpret each other’s nonsensical noises, ultimately shaping the song’s unforgettable chorus.

5 Twisted Sister

Originally called Silver Star, Twisted Sister went through multiple lineup changes before solidifying the roster that fans recognize today. After a disappointing 1988 album that leaned toward pop, the band disbanded, only to reunite in 1997 for new releases, benefit shows, and festival slots.

Tragedy struck in March 2015 when drummer A.J. Pero passed away in his sleep while on tour. A month later, the band announced a farewell tour featuring tribute concerts honoring Pero, concluding with a final performance in November 2016.

Although the group no longer performs, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” remains an anthem of defiance, its inspiration traced back to glam rock pioneers Slade and the Christmas carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

The track even entered the political arena when Donald Trump’s campaign used it as a rally theme. Songwriter Dee Snider initially granted permission but later rescinded it, asking the candidate to stop using the song at events.

6 The Guess Who

During their peak, Canadian rockers The Guess Who put out eleven studio albums, with the 1970 “American Woman” record becoming their most recognized work and soaring to number one on the Canadian charts.

The title track topped charts for three weeks and performed strongly worldwide. Its lyrics sparked debate: some listeners saw it as a political jab at the United States, while others interpreted it as overtly chauvinistic. When invited to play at the White House in 1970, First Lady Pat Nixon explicitly requested the song be omitted from the setlist.

Guitarist Randy Bachman later clarified in a 2014 interview that “American Woman” was, in fact, an anti‑war protest song reflecting the band’s opposition to the Vietnam conflict.

7 The White Stripes

The opening riff of “Seven Nation Army” has become synonymous with stadium chants, especially among football fans. Though the track didn’t explode immediately upon release, within six months it became a fixture at matches, thanks in part to Belgian side Club Brugge, who celebrated a 2006 victory over AC Milan by chanting the iconic bass line.

Over time, the song earned a place among the best tracks of the 2000s, bolstering The White Stripes’ reputation and cementing the riff’s status as a global sporting anthem.

8 The Animals

The Animals’ 1964 rendition of the traditional folk‑rock ballad became their most successful version, soaring to number one on the UK Singles Chart. Lead vocalist Eric Burdon recounted hearing the song from Johnny Handle and choosing to record it for its distinctive sound, often closing their live sets with it during a joint tour with Chuck Berry.

Legend has it that Bob Dylan was inspired to “go electric” after hearing The Animals’ interpretation on the radio, underscoring the track’s influence on the next generation of rock musicians.

9 The Darkness

When “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” hit the UK Singles Chart in September 2003, it peaked at number 2 and instantly captured listeners’ attention. The track earned a spot as the 47th greatest guitar track in 2005 and topped a list of “Greatest Rock Songs of the Noughties.” A 2020 poll even crowned it the “Greatest Song of the Century.”

The infectious anthem attracted covers from artists like Panic! At the Dungeon, Hanson, and Delta Goodrem, while also featuring in numerous commercials. Unfortunately, the band’s momentum stalled, leading to a 2006 split when frontman Justin Hawkins entered rehab.

Reuniting in 2011, the original quartet released the album “Hot Cakes” in 2012, later opening for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way tour. They continue to tour worldwide, proving the song’s lasting appeal.

10 The Beatles

“Helter Skelter” is widely regarded as a pivotal influence on the birth of heavy metal. Paul McCartney read an interview with Pete Townshend of The Who and set out to create the loudest, most chaotic track The Beatles had ever produced.

Released in November 1968, the song required an arduous recording process: eighteen takes, each roughly five minutes long, before the final version emerged. Over the years, bands such as Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, U2, and Oasis have covered the track.

While the lyrics use a playground slide as a metaphor for the rise and fall of an empire, cult leader Charles Manson twisted the meaning, claiming it incited murder and a race war. During his trial, he famously declared, “I hear what it relates. It says rise. It says kill. Why blame it on me? I didn’t write the music.”

2019 has seen a major rise in protest action throughout Britain. Over the past few months climate change activists have been out in full force. In April campaigners from political movement Extinction Rebellion blocked numerous roads and train lines in London; Using tactics that included gluing themselves to a lorry. Elsewhere crowds of young people have been following in the footsteps of Greta Thunberg and going on strike to demand that parliament declare a climate emergency.

These environmental rallies are hardly the first protests to happen in Britain, nor will it be the last judging from current enthusiasm. The divisive debate around exiting the European Union has sparked a number of marches from both pro-Leave and pro-Remain forces. Movements around a wide variety campaigns; Everything from Palestinian solidarity to the incarceration of Tommy Robinson – are a semi-regular sight in some city centers.

Britain’s history has been shaped by mass action and protest. Whether you think of the people involved as brave fighters taking a stand against worthwhile causes or just needless time wasters. Here are ten times that activists rose up in Britain.

10. General Strike, May 1926

The best part of a century ago, over one and a half million British workers took industrial action against insufficient wages and long work hours. On May 3rd 1926, a large contingency of coal miners made the decision to go on strike. Their bosses were making plans to slash their pay by 13%, whilst also adding an extra hour to their shifts.

In an act of solidarity, masses of other workers joined the miners in striking. Dock workers, builders, electricians and many more took to picket lines across the country. Without drivers, the trains and buses were brought to a standstill. Police and strikers clashed violently. A warship was sent to Newcastle to aggressively intimidate the strikers back to work.

In the end Britain’s Trade Union Congress brought the strikes to an end without any victories. By November miners were either unemployed or had returned to work under worse conditions. In the aftermath of the struggle prime minister Stanley Baldwin passed a law forbidding mass picketing, which is still in place today.

9. The Chartists, 1848

Nowadays almost every adult with British citizenship has the right to vote in elections; (Excluding prisoners and some people involved in the upper echelons of parliament). Historically this has not always been the case. From 1832 only 18% of adult men were allowed to vote. The working classes, who did not own property, were still without suffrage.

The Chartist movement aimed to bring this to an end. Their six key demands were listed in the People’s Charter, which called on votes for all men over 21 and votes by secret ballot amongst other things.

In 1848, having already been rejected twice, the Chartists presented their petition to Parliament. The petition had an estimated six million signatures, or so they claimed. The 20,000 Chartists who assembled on Kennington Common were met by 8,000 soldiers, and their petition was rejected once again.

In spite of this defeat many of those in Parliament still feared that the movement would escalate into a revolution. Riots had sprung up in Manchester and Preston. And at the time vast swathes of the working class were living in poverty and hunger. Several Reform Acts were passed throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century. And, by 1918 all but one of their demands had been met.

8. Poll Tax Riots, March 31st 1990

In her final few years in office, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher introduced a flat-rate poll tax – officially known as the Community Charge. First instigated in 1989, the tax was met by monumental opposition. Several different campaigns urged the public to refuse payment. Droves of activists took the streets to confront what they saw as a vicious attack on the working class.

Following on from various active demonstrations that had broken out in some pockets of the country, a mass protest was scheduled for March 31st 1990. On the day more than 200,000 incensed Brits marched across central London demanding an end to the poll tax. The police reacted with a vast display of force. Officers on horseback charged at the crowds, whilst others attacked the protesters with riot shields and truncheons. In the face of this provocation, the protesters responded by hurling impromptu projectiles like bottles, sticks and placards. The total 339 protesters were arrested.

In response to the public’s hostility, the Community Charge was dropped in 1993 after only a few years and replaced with the property-based Council Tax system.

7. Stop The War, February 15th 2003

The single biggest march ever to happen in Britain. In 2003 somewhere between 750,000 and two million protesters marched across London. The march – which was held in conjunction with hundreds of similar demonstrations globally – aimed to take a stand against the planned invasion of Iraq. Protestors flocked to the capital from 250 towns and cities to join in with the rally. Waving pro-peace banners and urging Prime Minister Tony Blair not to go to war.

Despite the enormous turn-out the march proved unsuccessful in preventing war. In March that year British troops carried out a ferocious incursion of the Iraqi province Basra. Bombs from coalition forces rained down on Baghdad on the spurious claim that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Years later Iraq remains ravaged by conflict, which has been exacerbated since the emergence of militant organizations such as ISIL.

6. Student Protests, November and December 2010

In 2010 the British government announced plans to triple university tuition fees to £9,000 and abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for college students. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who had previously promised to oppose any attempts to hike tuition fees, refused to take a stand against the proposed raise.

Outraged by the decision, tens of thousands of students came out in protest against the education funding cuts. Towards the end of 2010 the National Union of Students and University and College Union held a series of demonstrations, particularly centered on London. The most prominent marches saw activists smashing windows, clashing with the police and on one occasion storming a government building in the centre of London.

Ultimately Parliament refused to meet the protesters demands. The cost of an undergraduate degree for home students now stands at up to £9,250 per year in England and EMA has faded to a long distant memory. On top of this the maintenance grant for students from low-income backgrounds was scrapped in 2016, and the education budget cuts show no sign of slowing down.

5. Brixton Riots, April 1981

Brixton in Lambeth, South London is one of the most multicultural and poorest districts in Britain. Over the past seventy years a large population of immigrants, particularly Irish, West Indian and Afro-Caribbean, have settled in the area. In the 1980s poverty there was rife. The borough of Lambeth was marred by poorly built and often dangerous housing and the levels of employment were worryingly low.

By spring 1981, following a step up in the use of stop and search, the strained relationship between black youths and white police officers in Brixton was threatening to spill over. These tensions reached breaking point on Friday April 10th 1981 when a group of black locals attacked a police vehicle, launching glass bottles at the windscreen.

Disturbances escalated over the course of the weekend. Protesters were set upon with police dogs, police vans were attacked with petrol bombs and bricks, and over a hundred businesses and vehicles sustained damage. An inquiry into the violence recommended that police should liaise more with Brixton locals to ease the animosity.

4. Peasants’ Revolt, 1381

Another British rebellion sparked in opposition to a poll tax, the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 saw artisans, villeins, laborers and the working classes conspire against young King Richard II. The protests broke out in May of that year and by June 13th had spread to the capital. Under the command of Wat Tyler, English rebels stormed into London, slaughtering several merchants and demolishing the palace of the Duke of Lancaster.

Over the following days the Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Sudbury was killed, as was Wat Tyler. However the momentum was short lived. After only a few days the king persuaded the rebel army to leave London, and by June the movement had been extinguished altogether.

In response to the revolt Richard II vowed to eliminate forced labor and encourage free trade, but he quickly went back on his promises. The only real success of the Peasants’ Revolt was to halt the spread of the poll tax.

3. Northern Ireland Conflict, 1968-1998

For thirty years nationalist and loyalist forces in Northern Ireland faced off in a volatile armed conflict that, at times, verged on civil war. During the so-called ‘Troubles’, Irish nationalists and other republican movements, most notably the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), fought against the Ulster constabulary and British Army for a unified Ireland. Meanwhile unionists and loyalists clashed with the republicans in favor of continuing the political relationship between Ireland and Britain.

Violent action including rioting, house burnings, shootings and bombings were performed by all sides. In 1972 alone, 480 people died at the hands of the conflict. On January 30 of that year the British Army massacred fourteen republicans in the city of Derry. This attack has since come to be known as ‘Bloody Sunday‘ and paved the way for a step up in militancy from all sides. Car bombings became a favored tactic of the IRA, who had killed over 100 British soldiers by the end of the year. In total more than 2,000 people died over the course of the 1970s, and despite several attempted ceasefires fierce battles continued for years afterwards.

Officially the conflict was brought to an end in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement. That said, in recent years a New IRA has started to emerge, signaling that disputes over the status of the six counties are far from over.

2. Miners’ Strike, 1984-1985

For Britain the 1980s were a time of intense political action. Of all the movements that stood against the neoliberal policies of Margaret Thatcher‘s government, the miners’ strike is one of the most commonly remembered.

On March 6th 1984, it was announced by the National Coal Board (NCB) that twenty pits would be closed down, putting 20,000 workers out of a job. In response miners called a national strike, laying down their tools and demanding job security.

The constabulary were relentless in trying to quash some of the striking miners, and their extreme actions remain a contentious topic to this day. One mass picket line in the Yorkshire village of Orgreave was charged by police riding horses and dressed in riot gear. On the other hand the strikers could also be brutal in their treatment of ‘scabs’; Anyone who decided to cross on the picket lines into work. A taxi driver died in South Wales. He died after a concrete post was dropped onto his car for driving a pair of scabs to the Merthyr Vale Colliery.

By the start of 1985, unable to afford to continue the industrial action, large numbers of miners were forced to head back to work. Mass pit closures followed and the coal mining industry fell into a rapid decline. Kellingley Colliery, the last remaining deep coal mine in Britain, ceased operation in December 2015.

1. The Suffragettes, 1903-1918

The Suffragettes were not the first movement to demand votes for women in Britain. However, they played a vital role in ensuring that demand was delivered. In 1903 the Pankhurst family; Mother Emmeline and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia – started up the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), one of the most militant organizations in the history of British politics.

For the first few years the Suffragettes’ actions were actually fairly non-violent. The main shift came in 1905 when Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Kenney forcibly disrupted a political meeting in Manchester. From this point forwards the campaign became far more extreme in its actions. Protesters chained themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace. They set churches ablaze, smashed windows on Oxford Street and attacked politicians all in the name of securing women’s suffrage. Their most notorious act of protest came in June 1913, when activist Emily Wilding Davison died after throwing herself under the horse of King George V.

By the end of the First World War suffrage had been granted to all women over 30 with property. While many in the movement saw this as a resounding success, Sylvia Pankhurst continued to fight. Her East London Federation believed in fighting for decent rights for women of all classes. Whereas other movements at the time were noticeably centered on the middle classes.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or that is what Andy Williams merrily proclaims in his hit song that crashes face-first into all stores at the beginning of the festive season (and in some cases even before that). What is never mentioned in all the joyous writings of the jovial holidays and endless feasts is the stress it places on people, particularly their relationships. Rising costs and familial pressures to love everybody, allowing the family to take over your home for a few weeks could cause even the most solid parent to devour most of the eggnog, leading to fights and conflict.

In fact, Christmas is blamed for such levels of conflict that it’s considered a contributing factor in divorce shortly after that. Whether you are part of a family that loves to bicker or spend Christmas with smiles and hugs, here are 10 fights and battles fought around the festive season that might make you rethink your hate for the silly season.

10 Jack Johnson Beats Tommy Burns in a Fight

Leading up to the historic bout, Tommy Burns had defended his title against 12 men, no small feat. Yet on the day after Christmas in 1908, held in Australia, it was Jack Johnson who beat out his Canadian counterpart. But not before taunting him and allowing him a free shot or two just to rile him up and show him that there was no fear. Jack meant business. With racial tensions brimming (considering the time), the taunting that ensued after Johnson so soundly beat his opponent caused unrest to such an extent that the police eventually piled in and stopped the show.

On that day, Jack Johnson became the first black world heavyweight champion. Afterward, he had to endure an endless streak of white boxers being thrown at him in the racially motivated hopes of ending his reign. Johnson only left carnage in his wake, though. Ironically Boxing Day has nothing to do with boxing as a sport, but the day will live on in infamy among those who are aware of Johnson’s antics.^[1]

9 Soviets Invade Afghanistan

Being a predominantly Islamic country, the Afghans don’t celebrate Christmas. The Russians, however, do. Imagine eating yourself into a carb coma only to have to get into your full kit and invade a Middle Eastern country. On the eve of Christmas of 1979, the Soviets sent in around 30,000 troops, toppling the current government and installing a Soviet-friendly president named Babrak Karmal and plummeting the country into a civil war that cost an estimated one million civilian lives.

In what was ultimately a failed campaign for the Soviets, they battled the U.S.-backed mujahideen for almost ten years before an accord was struck with Pakistan, the United States, and Afghanistan. The withdrawal of the Soviet troops was completed on February 15, 1989, also effectively ruining Valentine’s Day.^[2]

8 Belgian Ship Leopoldville Torpedoed

Built in 1929 as a Belgian steam passenger ship, the Leopoldville was converted into a vessel ferrying troops to battle by the Ministry of War Transport in WWII. On its way to reinforce troops locked in combat at the infamous Battle of the Bulge (more on this later), the ship encountered a German U-Boat that fired two torpedoes, effectively ending the voyage in an explosive groan.

Some 2,235 officers and servicemen of the U.S. 66th Infantry Division—who were being transported to the upcoming battle—and a crew of 139 men were on board when the explosives struck. The British destroyer escort, the HMS Brilliant, attempted to rescue those stranded survivors. However, the rescue attempts were made difficult by the bobbing current. The master, 55 crew members, and 763 American soldiers perished at sea.^[3]

7 Battle of the Bulge

Many people, especially those in the southern hemisphere, dream of a white Christmas. The white decked trees, the fireplaces crackling in the living room, hot chocolate for the tummy-tums. That was not the case at the Battle of the Bulge. On December 16, 1944, Hitler launched what is known as the final Blitzkrieg of World War II. The large-scale attack by three German armies of hundreds of thousands of soldiers along the front of the Ardennes Forest of Luxembourg attempted to capture Bastogne and aimed for Antwerp in Belgium.

In what was eventually one of the single bloodiest battles of the war, the siege was eventually broken (but not ended) on the day after Christmas by Gen. George S. Patton Jr., whose third army came to the rescue, breaking through the Germans with his tank units.^[4]

6 Eggnog Riot

We touched on this matter earlier—the effects of too much eggnog turning even the most civilized of interactions sour. That is exactly what happened at the great eggnog riot, and it sounds like more fun than it actually was. ‘Twas the year 1826, at West Point, when the academy’s 260 cadets, known for their bodacious drinking, were snubbed by the powers that be. They had made the executive decision not to add alcohol to the traditional Christmas Eve eggnog. The cadets took it upon themselves to spike the nog, leading to copious amounts of alcohol consumption and ultimate riots, which included bouts of vandalism and assault on a superior officer.

Of the 206 cadets, as many as 90 could have been indicted. However, considering the poor reflection that would have on the academy, 19 of the most aggressive offenders were identified and expelled. Among those who seemed to have managed to escape the night relatively unscathed were Jefferson Davis (later president of the Confederate States president) as well as future general Robert E. Lee.^[5]

5 Christmas Raid

With the advent of railway transport that turned the gears of war, General John Hunt Morgan was entrusted to cut the supply lines of the Union army by attacking and destroying certain key points. In what is now known as the Christmas Raid, although it took place after Christmas day in the final days of December, Morgan took his cavalry and launched a raid into Kentucky.

The raid saw horsemen decimate Union supply convoys of food, forage, and supplies from Louisville, destroy essential trestles (or bridges), and fight a series of skirmishes that resulted in magnificent losses for the Union army. Before long, it was mission accomplished as Morgan took his command back to Tennessee.^[6]

4 Washington Crosses the Delaware River

One of the most celebrated moments of the American Revolution happened on Christmas Day in 1776. After several months of significant defeats suffered by Washington’s army, which resulted in their loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region, Washington took his army of around 5,400 troops in the hopes of surprising the Hessian force during their festive celebrations. Taking on the icy waters where heavy artillery, horses, and the support of experienced seamen, about 2,400 made it over the river. About 3,000 men and crucial artillery failed to reach the meeting point in time.

At 8 am on the morning of December 26, the groggy Hessian defenders were caught with their pants down, underestimating the patriot threat, and Washington’s men quickly overwhelmed the defenses. The failure of the artillery to arrive cost Washington dearly, and they were eventually forced to withdraw. However, news of the victory quickly spread and raised the spirits of the American colonists.^[7]

3 Sinking of the Scharnhorst

The Scharnhorst, one of the German fleet’s most vaunted and dangerous warships, had been tormenting the seas for the duration of WWII. In 1943, information reached the HMS Belfast that it had been deployed from a Norwegian base to intercept a convoy making its way back to Britain.

In a battle fit for a silver screen adaptation out of the Christopher Nolan playbook, the convoy—made up of numerous ships, including the Scorpion, Norfolk, Sheffield, and The Duke of York—left the Scharnhorst fleeing with its tail between its legs. A gun-blasting rabbit hunt ensued with direct hits and near misses, but in the end, it was the HMS Belfast that landed the killer blow and condemned the Scharnhorst to the depths of the icy ocean. Of the 55 torpedoes that were fired, 11 hit the target, and of the 1,968 men on board, only 36 survived.^[8]

2 Italy’s Invasion of Ethiopia

When Mussolini’s war in Ethiopia was already not going to plan when a 200,000-strong Ethiopian army launched a counter-offensive on Christmas Day in 1935. What was known by informed circles as the “Black Period” of the war, the counter-offensive gave rise to the “Harvest of Gold,” in which Mussolini asked his own countrymen back home to raise funds for the war as a pledge to his fascist regime. The public donated valuable personal effects, including wedding rings. In exchange for gold jewelry, they were given rigs of steel to show their commitment to the cause.

The counter-offensive was met with initial success, but the superior Italian weapons and the use of illegal chemical warfare ultimately crushed any chance of victory.^[9]

1 Takanakuy

In Quechua, the primary language in this particular region of Peru, the word Takanakuy means “when the blood is boiling” or “to hit each other.” In short, this day is celebrated (is celebrated the correct word?) annually on Christmas Day and involves people of all ages and sexes coming together and beating each other up, or at least watching people settle scores with their fists.

The ultimate aim of the event is to begin the new year in peace, allowing those who do not have access to law enforcement or alternative dispute resolution to settle their scores in a public arena. The conflict is mutual, and like any Christmas fight, it starts and ends with a hug. The festivities originated during colonial times, and to this day, the Peruvian tradition carries with it a festival of celebration, drunkenness, and religiosity to go along with the hitting.^[10]