Check your subscription status, update your details and more. Why the worst El Niño killed millions – and how we can avoid a repeat The world hasn't experienced an El Niño this strong since the 1870s, when it sparked a terrible global famine. Are we better prepared this time?
A wood engraving captures the scene of a mother selling her children for bread during the 1877 famine in China To read of the great famine that swept the globe in the 1870s is to read of a hellscape worse than your imagination could conjure. In China, India, Brazil and beyond, after years of drought and failed harvests, millions died of starvation. People rioted, begged, stole, murdered for food.
They knowingly ate diseased animals, tree roots, mud, pets and strips of leather in desperate bids to stay alive. By many contemporary accounts, cannibalism was rife. Children were sold or sacrificed for a meal.
Corpses were bricked into their homes by family members to stop them being pillaged and eaten by hungry neighbours. Bodies littered the roadsides. Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox.
We'll also keep you up to date with _New Scientist_ events and special offers. #### Environment ### Rising water is creating inland ghost forests in the US News #### Environment ### Record El Niño threatens Great Barrier Reef with ecological shift News #### Environment ### The world may never go back to how it was after this monster El Niño News #### Environment ### Cameraless photography creates unique images of environmental change Regulars Tattoos could be turned on and off with light### Rising water is creating inland ghost forests in the US### Compressing bones releases molecules that ease traumatic brain injuries### Why many women with ADHD feel overwhelmingly controlled by their hormones### How healthy is your brain? We now know how to find out### Cameraless photography creates unique images of environmental change### The collapse of the AMOC would be catastrophic. How will we know when it’s coming?### ‘Astonishing’ weight loss when GLP-1 drug used with second medication### Number of known species of giant waterlilies almost doubles### Can we harness the brain’s deep-cleaning system to prevent Alzheimer’s?
We and our partners use cookies and other technologies to collect user data
Extract — continue reading at the source.
