Final answer:
In 1910, the imminent disaster widely anticipated was associated with Halley's Comet. Contrary to fears, its passing was harmless. The era did, however, witness the devastating Spanish flu pandemic post-World War I, and the later development of vaccines combating polio, along with contemporary efforts against AIDS. The correct answer is option d.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1910, one of the imminent threats that garnered considerable public attention was Halley's Comet. At that time, the approach of Halley's Comet was associated with potential catastrophe due to fears about the earth passing through its tail, which was mistakenly believed to contain poisonous gases that could penetrate our atmosphere. However, none of the disasters envisioned occurred, and the comet's passing in 1910 turned out to be a non-event in terms of human calamity. In contrast, the 20th century saw real pandemics and health crises. For example, the vaccine developed by Hilary Koprowski was aimed at preventing polio, a highly infectious disease that caused paralysis and death in many cases.
Furthermore, the post-World War I era experienced one of the most lethal pandemics in recorded history: the Spanish flu. This influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 claimed millions of lives worldwide, with an estimated death toll significantly exceeding the casualties of the war itself. Factors related to the war, such as crowding and poor sanitation, facilitated the spread of this new H1N1 virus strain. In the present day, addressing such global health crises requires collaborative efforts from engineers, scientists, governments, and health workers to develop technologies that prevent and manage these threats, as seen with the ongoing AIDS epidemic and other emerging diseases.
The final answer to the student's question is: d. Halley's Comet.