Historians call the year 536 AD “the worst year to be alive.” But what made it so devastating? In this episode, we uncover the global mystery behind a year filled with dark skies, summer snow, famine, and disease. Ancient accounts describe a sun that refused to shine and crops that failed across continents. Centuries later, science finally offers answers.

You’ll discover:
🌋 How volcanic eruptions plunged the world into darkness
🌡 Why global temperatures dropped more than 2°C overnight
🌾 How famine reshaped kingdoms and collapsed trade routes
😷 Why this disaster helped spark the deadliest plague in history
🔬 How ice core samples and historical records solved the mystery

From Byzantine chronicles to modern climate science, we dive into the chilling story of a year that changed humanity. Was it a natural disaster—or something more mysterious?

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