Scientists at LIGO announced the second direct detection of gravitational waves, further confirming Einstein's general theory of relativity and opening new doors in astrophysics.
📍 Livingston, Louisiana & Hanford, Washington, United States
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected as Pope Francis, becoming the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the position, signaling a new era for the Catholic Church.
📍 Vatican City
Microsoft launched Internet Explorer, a web browser that would dominate the early internet era and play a central role in the company's antitrust battles and the evolution of digital culture.
📍 Redmond, Washington, United States
Thirty-two women were ordained as priests in the Church of England for the first time, ending centuries of male-only clergy and marking a historic milestone for gender equality in religion.
📍 London, United Kingdom
CIA officer Aldrich Ames pleaded guilty to spying for the Soviet Union and Russia. His betrayal exposed U.S. agents and intelligence operations, causing massive damage to American security.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
'The Wonder Years' premiered on ABC, becoming a nostalgic cultural touchstone that portrayed American adolescence in the 1960s and 70s. The show won a Peabody Award and critical acclaim.
📍 United States
The first major phase of the Battle of Khorramshahr concluded during the Iran-Iraq War. The battle was one of the longest and bloodiest of the conflict, symbolizing Iranian resistance.
📍 Khorramshahr, Iran
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini formally declared Iran an Islamic Republic following a national referendum. The declaration solidified the outcome of the Iranian Revolution and reshaped Middle East politics.
📍 Tehran, Iran
Apollo 9 splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after completing a 10-day mission that successfully tested the Lunar Module in Earth orbit, paving the way for the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
📍 Atlantic Ocean
The CIA officially launched the Phoenix Program, aimed at dismantling the Viet Cong infrastructure in South Vietnam through intelligence, capture, and assassination. It became one of the most controversial counterinsurgency operations of the Vietnam War.
📍 South Vietnam
The Soviet Union escalated Cold War tensions by formally denouncing NATO as a threat and expelling Western diplomats, increasing hostilities between the Eastern and Western blocs.
📍 Moscow, USSR
Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, a member of the Russian imperial family, was executed by Bolsheviks during the Red Terror, marking the further dismantling of Tsarist Russia’s legacy.
📍 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Carl Laemmle founded Universal Pictures, one of the oldest major film studios in the world. Universal helped shape the global film industry with classic horror, comedy, and action films.
📍 New York, United States
Former U.S. President Benjamin Harrison died in Indianapolis. His administration is noted for the McKinley Tariff, Sherman Antitrust Act, and support for expanded U.S. naval power.
📍 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
The U.S. Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1864, which authorized the phrase 'In God We Trust' to appear on coins. It marked a significant fusion of faith and public symbols in American culture.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
The U.S. Congress approved the charter for the Second Bank of the United States to stabilize the post-war economy. It played a central role in early American financial policy until its dissolution.
📍 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Astronomer William Herschel discovered Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, marking the first planet discovered with a telescope and expanding the known boundaries of the solar system.
📍 Bath, England, United Kingdom
American and British forces clashed at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. Though technically a British victory, the high casualties weakened British control in the southern colonies.
📍 Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
The Mongol siege of Baghdad concluded with the city's fall and mass killing of residents, marking the end of the Abbasid Caliphate and a major turning point in Islamic history.
📍 Baghdad, Iraq
Rome issued its first gold coins, the aureus, under the reign of Julius Caesar. These coins became central to Roman trade and economic influence across the ancient world.
📍 Rome, Roman Empire