# What's the biggest most important event that genuinely happened "in the nick of time" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933 "2013-09-29T17:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/21 "2013-10-01T01:34:58Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > How about the Icelandic island of [Heimaey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heimaey), in which the volcano Eldfell erupted, and the local townspeople managed to spray the approaching lava with seawater \ until it cooled and diverted, saving the fishing village. Even better, once they had established control over the lava flow they directed it so as to enlarge and improve the harbour. Not sure if it really qualifies as a “nick of time” event though. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/22 "2013-10-01T01:52:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Columbus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1504_lunar_eclipse) was the one who pulled this trick, when he was shipwrecked in Jamaica on his fourth voyage. The locals had refused to continue bringing food to his crew (mainly because they were jerks), until Columbus threatened to make the moon turn red -which it did on cue. > > Mark Twain used this device in _A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court_, but I am unaware of any other instances when it was used in real life. Let’s just say it [doesn’t always work](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Isandlwana). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/23 "2013-10-01T01:59:18Z")
aand beaten by RealityChuck… ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/24 "2013-10-01T04:35:03Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > Well, [Stanislav Petrov](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov) correctly guessed that when the Oko nuclear early-warning system reported that a missile was being launched from the United States, it was a false alarm. He did not launch a retaliatory strike, thus preventing World War III. Petrov had no authority nor ability to launch any strike. In real life he did tell the Sov leadership (he got five false alarms not one). They had realised that it was a false alarm. Now where it really came to the last seconds was the 1[995 Norwegian Rocket incident](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_rocket_incident). ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/25 "2013-10-02T02:38:53Z")
Richard Jewell discovered the Olympic Park bomb in the nick of time. The Wiki article was a little unclear to me, but as I understand the timeline, he discovered the bomb about 13 minutes before it exploded. He helped save untold numbers of people from being killed or injured. For his quick thinking and heroic service, he was naturally praised as a hero. For a few days anyway. > **[Richard Jewell](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Jewell)** > > Richard Allensworth Jewell (born Richard White; December 17, 1962 – August 29, 2007) was an American security guard and law enforcement officer who alerted police during the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He discovered a backpack containing three pipe bombs on the park grounds and helped evacuate the area before the bomb exploded, saving many people from injury or death. For months afterward he was suspected of planting the bomb, leading Initia... ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/26 "2013-10-02T07:10:24Z")
Actually come to think of it, this question can’t be answered. We don’t know if something major would have happened because whatever might have happened was averted. Let’s say for example, a policeman tripped and took the bullet meant for JFK. Would JFK have done anything different or better than LBJ? Or, would he have started WW3 with the soviets? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933/27 "2013-10-02T09:07:46Z")
Ogodie’s (sp?) untimely death just when Mongols were about to attack western Europe? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-most-important-event-that-genuinely-happened-in-the-nick-of-time/669933.md?page=1)