Sending humans into space is perilous. Astronauts endure powerful launches, brutal reentry forces and an environment where small errors cause catastrophe. To prepare Orion for deep space, NASA studies past disasters to shape safer suits, escape systems and materials.
Tunnels save time, money, and the environment by providing shortcuts through tough terrain. But they can also be dangerous, especially as today’s tunnels grow longer and deeper. Follow the Brenner Base Tunnel and Fehmarnbelt link to explore how engineers use past disasters to make construction and travel safer.
Flood risks are rising worldwide as storm surges and extreme rainfall overwhelm cities. Tokyo builds vast underground rivers to manage typhoons, while Spain’s Valencia floods highlight the need for early warnings. In New Orleans, storm surge barriers were reinvented after America’s worst flood disaster.
When the Morandi Bridge in Genoa collapsed in 2018, it served as a wake-up call for engineers around the world. The disaster demonstrated that even massive structures have a limited lifespan. At the same time, traffic, population, and extreme weather events are steadily increasing. In the construction of the new bridge in Genoa, engineers are therefore relying on intelligent monitoring systems and modern robotics. Elsewhere, too, the boundaries of what is possible are being pushed further and further: In Turkey, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges is under construction—designed to withstand strong winds, collisions with ships, and even severe earthquakes.
When the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed in 2001, many engineers believed the era of skyscrapers was over. But the attack led to a shift in thinking. New safety standards and insights fundamentally changed the design of tall buildings. At the same time, a boom in so-called “supertalls”—skyscrapers over 300 meters tall—began. Today, 71 cities already have at least one of these structures. From One World Trade Center in New York to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, they demonstrate how engineers are learning from past disasters and developing ever-safer high-rises.
Nuclear energy can power entire cities—or destroy them. Despite the risks, it is now considered one of the safest forms of energy and plays a vital role in the fight against climate change, as it is virtually carbon-free. Disasters such as those at Chernobyl, Fukushima Daiichi, and Three Mile Island continue to shape public perception to this day. However, crucial lessons have been learned from these incidents: modern plants are now considered significantly safer. Researchers are also working toward the vision of nuclear fusion—a potentially even safer and nearly unlimited source of energy.