Crazy History - Rômulo Silva

Crazy History by Rômulo Silva

Book excerpt

Chapter 1: Moon Goes Boom: The Hilarious Story Of America's Lunatic Ambitions In Project A119

The late 1950s was a period of significant social, cultural, and political upheaval around the world, specially in the United States. Amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War and civil rights struggles, the US government was engaged in a bitter arms race with the Soviet Union, each trying to outdo the other in terms of technological advancements and military might through the infamous Cold War. It was during this time that a curious and controversial project was conceived – Project A119, the American plan to detonate an atomic bomb on the moon.

It's hard to imagine now, but back in the day, there were actually serious discussions about blowing up the moon with a nuclear bomb. The idea had been proposed as early as 1957 by a physicist named Leonard Reiffel, who was working at the Armour Research Foundation in Chicago. Reiffel had suggested that detonating a nuclear bomb on the moon would not only be a display of American technological prowess but would also serve as a test of the scientific feasibility of the endeavor. Well, maybe he wanted to create some sort of cosmic firework display!

The US Air Force was quick to jump on the idea and launched Project A119 in 1958. Leonard Reiffel was named as the project's director, and a team of scientists and engineers was assembled to plan and execute the mission. The Air Force saw the project as a way to demonstrate American superiority in the Cold War. They probably figured, "If we can't beat the Reds on Earth, we'll beat them on the moon!"

The plan was to launch a missile carrying a small nuclear device, which would be detonated on the moon's surface. The explosion would be visible from Earth, and the US government hoped that it would send a clear message to the Soviet Union: the United States was capable of achieving feats of technology and power that its rival could not match. Perhaps the goal of Project A119 was to reignite America's lunar ambitions and "Make The Moon Great Again" (this time with explosions). Or perhaps it was an attempt to show the Soviets that the US was capable of doing something even more audacious than donning bell-bottom pants.

However, Project A119 was not without its critics. Some scientists and policymakers argued that the plan was dangerous and unnecessary. They pointed out that the explosion could have unintended consequences, such as triggering seismic activity on the moon or releasing dangerous radiation into space. Others worried that the project could escalate the arms race and lead to an even more dangerous nuclear arms race. Just imagine an alien race picking up the radiation and thinking Earth is trying to make war with the moon.

Despite these concerns, Project A119 moved forward, and the US Air Force began planning the mission in earnest. They needed to determine the right timing, trajectory, and composition of the missile that would carry the nuclear device to the moon. They also had to make sure that the explosion would be visible from Earth, and that it would have the desired impact on the Soviet Union. Talk about a moon mission with a lot of moving parts!

However, as the planning for Project A119 progressed, a number of logistical and technical challenges began to emerge. Yeah, they must have forgotten to eat their Wheaties in the morning… One of the biggest challenges was that the missile that was meant to carry the nuclear device was not powerful enough to reach the moon. The Air Force had to go back to the drawing board and develop a more powerful missile.

In the end, Project A119 was canceled before it could be carried out. The US government was worried about the potential fallout from a failed mission, and they were also concerned about the negative public reaction to the idea of detonating a nuclear bomb on the moon. Today, Project A119 is remembered as one of the more curious and controversial projects of the Cold War era. While it never came to fruition, the project remains an interesting historical footnote, highlighting the lengths that the United States and the Soviet Union were willing to go to prove their technological prowess and assert their dominance on the world stage. It's also a reminder of the danger and absurdity of the arms race and nuclear brinkmanship that defined the Cold War era.

Still, there is something compelling about the idea of a cosmic explosion, visible from Earth, serving as a symbol of American power and ingenuity. It's easy to imagine the headlines that might have resulted from a successful mission: "US Blows Up Moon! Soviets Tremble!" or "American Moon Bomb Signals New Era in Space Race!" The reality, of course, would have been far messier and more complicated than any of these headlines could capture.

In some ways, the story of Project A119 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and militarism. It's a reminder that even the most brilliant minds can be blinded by the allure of power and prestige. But it's also a story of human curiosity and ingenuity, of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible in the name of scientific progress and national pride. It's a good thing they didn't succeed, otherwise we might not have been able to enjoy the beauty of a full moon.

Chapter 2: The Day London Got A Little Too Tipsy: The Great Beer Flood Of 1814

Picture this: it's a typical afternoon in the St. Giles district of London, and you're going about your business when suddenly, the world turns upside down. But instead of an earthquake or a tornado, you're hit by a tidal wave of beer. Yes, you read that right, beer! On October 17, 1814, the Great London Beer Flood struck, leaving the city in a sticky, sudsy mess. The culprit? A massive vat of beer at Meux & Company brewery.

This wasn't just any old vat, mind you. In his book Disaster! A Compendium of Terrorist, Natural, and Man-Made Catastrophes, Michael Greenberg explains that it was one of the largest in the world, towering over the neighborhood at 22 feet (6.7 meters) high and 60 feet (18.2 meters) wide. And it had been in use for over twenty years, brewing up all kinds of delicious suds. But on that fateful day, disaster struck as the iron hoops holding the vat together gave way. The escaping liquid dislodged the valve of another vessel and destroyed several large barrels, and between 128,000 and 323,000 imperial gallons (580,000 – 1,470,000 liters) of beer came crashing down. It burst through the walls of the brewery, sending a foamy wave of ale surging through the streets.

Now, you might be thinking: Wow, free beer! But let's get serious for a moment. The Great London Beer Flood was a tragedy that claimed the lives of eight people, including a teenage girl who was crushed by a collapsing wall. We may make light of it now, but we must never forget the lives that were lost.