Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Tunguska Event, a massive explosion in Siberia that knocked down 80 million trees over 2,150 square kilometres on June 30, 1908. In physical terms, that’s a spicy meatball.
No one really knows what cause this massive air detonation, although the most likely culprit was a meteorite or small comet that detonated in the air. This theory has gained a little more credence with the discovery of a small crater in the Siberian Taiga. Other explanations include UFOs, interdimensional collisions, black holes, and the first four Black Sabbath albums. I mean, have you heard ‘Paranoid’? That song could destroy my city right now.
The Tunguska event has also made an impact (see what I did there?) in pop culture, with numerous references in everything from Ghostbusters to the X-Files. Just another example of how, no matter differences in era, culture, or geography, everyone digs a gigantic mystery explosions. I know I do.
Speaking of pop culture, I recently learned that The Scream, especially the colour of the sky, was inspired by what happened to the sky around the world after this event. (Hearsay)