NASA announced the upcoming launch of the Kepler mission to search for exoplanets. It would later identify thousands of planetary candidates and transform astronomy.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
NASA approved the Deep Impact mission, which would become the first to impact a comet (Tempel 1) and analyze its composition, providing major insights into solar system formation.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Carl David Anderson, American physicist who discovered the positron and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1936, died. His work advanced quantum physics and antimatter studies.
📍 San Marino, California, United States
Mary J. Blige, Grammy-winning artist and cultural icon known for blending R&B and hip-hop, was born. Her music and influence reshaped the genre and empowered women globally.
📍 Bronx, New York, United States
U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a landmark report concluding that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and other diseases, leading to major shifts in public health policy.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
France held a nationwide referendum in which the majority voted in favor of granting Algeria independence, marking a turning point in the Algerian War and ending French colonial rule.
📍 France / Algeria
NASA approved the launch of Pioneer 5, part of the U.S. deep space exploration program. It successfully measured solar radiation between Earth and Venus later that year.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The first live American television signal was received in Europe via undersea cable and relay systems, marking a milestone in transatlantic communication and global media connectivity.
📍 New York, United States / London, United Kingdom
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg established the Benelux Economic Union, forming one of the first steps toward European economic integration and a precursor to the European Union.
📍 Brussels, Belgium
René Lalique, celebrated for his Art Nouveau jewelry and Art Deco glass creations, died. His works remain prized for their innovation and craftsmanship in decorative arts.
📍 Paris, France
Clarence Clemons, legendary saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, was born. His powerful playing and stage presence made him a defining figure in American rock music.
📍 Norfolk County, Virginia, United States
Amelia Earhart completed the first solo flight by a woman from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California, showcasing her pioneering aviation skills and inspiring generations.
📍 Hawaii to California, United States
Thomas A. Watson, assistant to Alexander Graham Bell and instrumental in developing the first practical telephone, died. He later became a successful shipbuilder and philanthropist.
📍 Pass Christian, Mississippi, United States
Insulin was used for the first time to treat a human patient with diabetes, revolutionizing the treatment of the disease and saving millions of lives over the next century.
📍 Toronto, Canada
Alberto Granado, Argentine biochemist and travel companion of Che Guevara during their famous motorcycle journey across South America, was born. His life was portrayed in *The Motorcycle Diaries*.
📍 Hernando, Córdoba, Argentina
The first auto show in the U.S. opened in New York City, showcasing the rising popularity of automobiles and marking the early growth of America's automotive industry.
📍 New York City, United States
Edwin Hubble, American astronomer who discovered galaxies beyond the Milky Way and laid the foundation for the Big Bang theory, was born. The Hubble Space Telescope was named in his honor.
📍 Marshfield, Missouri, United States
Vasil Levski, a Bulgarian national hero and revolutionary who fought for independence from Ottoman rule, was captured and executed. He is widely honored as the Apostle of Freedom.
📍 Sofia, Bulgaria
William James, American philosopher and psychologist widely regarded as the father of American psychology and a pioneer of pragmatism, was born. His work influenced modern thought across disciplines.
📍 New York City, United States
Alexander Hamilton, key author of the Federalist Papers, first Secretary of the Treasury, and influential architect of the American financial system, was born in the West Indies.
📍 Charlestown, Nevis (British West Indies)