Comet Madness: How the 1910 Return of Halley's Comet (Almost) Destroyed Civilization

Halleys Comet returns every seventy-five years, and in 1910, it sparked a global hysteria that resulted in tragic consequences due to media manipulation, bogus science, and deception. In Comet Madness, author and historian Richard J. Goodrich examines the 1910 appearance of Halleys Comet and the ensuing frenzy sparked by media manipulation, bogus science, and outright deception.

Format: Hardback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Prometheus Books

Halleys Comet returns to Earth every seventy-five years, a celestial phenomenon that has long been associated with fear and superstition. Since the dawn of civilization, humans have believed that comets are evil omens, portending catastrophic events. However, in 1705, Edmond Halley challenged these primordial beliefs by proving that comets are not the will of the gods but rather the result of Newtonian mechanics. Despite this scientific breakthrough, Halleys Comet returned in 1910, and astronomers warned that our planet would pass through its poisonous tail. Unfortunately, newspapers exploited this information to provoke a global hysteria that had tragic consequences.

In his book, Comet Madness, author and historian Richard J. Goodrich delves into the 1910 appearance of Halleys Comet and the subsequent frenzy sparked by media manipulation, bogus science, and outright deception. The result is a fascinating and illuminating narrative history that underscores how we behave in the face of potential calamity – then and now.

As the comet approached Earth, scientists and journalists scrambled to get the story straight, but the media ignored the true position of popular astronomer Camille Flammarion that passage would be harmless. Weather prophet Irl Hicks, publisher of an annual pseudo-scientific almanac, announced that the comet would disrupt the world's weather, while religious leaders thumbed the Book of Revelation and wondered if the comet presaged the apocalypse. Newspapers, confident that there was gold in these alternate theories, gave every crackpot a megaphone, increasing circulation and stoking international hysteria.

The consequences of this hysteria were profound. Workmen shelved their tools, farmers refused to plant crops they would never harvest, and formerly reliable people stopped paying their debts. The panic spread beyond borders, with countries enacting emergency measures and citizens hoarding food and supplies. The stock market crashed, and economies around the world were destabilized.

In the end, Halleys Comet passed through Earth without incident, but the global hysteria it sparked left a lasting impact. It served as a reminder of the power of the media to manipulate public opinion and the dangers of basing decisions on fear and superstition rather than scientific evidence. The book Comet Madness is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the history of science and the human response to potential threats, and it serves as a cautionary tale for our times.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 161 x 238 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781633888562