Immanuel Velikovsky was a controversial figure in the field of history and science, best known for his books that challenged conventional views of ancient history and astronomy. His most famous work, *Worlds in Collision*, published in 1950, proposed that catastrophic events in the solar system, including near-collisions of planets, shaped human history and mythology. Velikovsky's ideas sparked significant debate among scientists and historians, leading to criticism from many in the academic community. Despite this, his work has influenced various fields, including pseudoscience and alternative history, and continues to attract interest from those exploring unconventional theories about the past.