Pope Francis canonized Junípero Serra, a Spanish missionary known for founding the California missions. His sainthood sparked both praise and controversy over colonial-era treatment of Indigenous peoples.
📍 Vatican City
H. R. Giger, the Swiss surrealist artist and designer of the iconic 'Alien' creature, passed away. His biomechanical style influenced generations of artists, filmmakers, and designers worldwide.
📍 Zurich, Switzerland
China launched its Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, during which astronaut Zhai Zhigang performed the country's first spacewalk. It was a major milestone in China's growing space program.
📍 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China
Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Her climb was a major milestone in mountaineering and helped inspire more women to pursue extreme adventure sports.
📍 Mount Everest, Nepal
Janet Jackson’s album *Rhythm Nation 1814* set a record by producing seven top-five hits and staying on the Billboard 200 for over a year, solidifying her legacy in pop and R&B music.
📍 United States
Over 100,000 people gathered in Central Park to protest nuclear weapons and power. It was one of the largest anti-nuclear demonstrations in U.S. history, reflecting Cold War-era anxieties.
📍 New York City, United States
Chairman Mao Zedong launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China, aimed at purging capitalist and traditional elements. It resulted in mass persecution, upheaval, and significant cultural loss over a decade.
📍 Beijing, China
Physicist Theodore Maiman successfully operated the first laser at Hughes Research Laboratories. This breakthrough led to the development of numerous applications in medicine, communication, and industry.
📍 Malibu, California, United States
Flamboyant American pianist Liberace performed to a record-breaking audience at the London Palladium, cementing his international stardom and unique legacy in 20th-century entertainment.
📍 London, United Kingdom
The United Nations General Assembly held its first special session in Geneva, Switzerland, symbolizing the organization's international reach and commitment to postwar peace and diplomacy.
📍 Geneva, Switzerland
Following the failed Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Soviet forces liberated surviving Jewish resistance fighters. Though the ghetto was largely destroyed, it symbolized resistance against Nazi oppression.
📍 Warsaw, Poland
Edwin H. Armstrong gave the first successful public demonstration of FM radio technology, which dramatically reduced static and revolutionized audio broadcasting around the world.
📍 New York City, United States
The first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, honoring the best films of 1927 and 1928. It lasted just 15 minutes and marked the beginning of the iconic Oscars tradition.
📍 Los Angeles, California, United States
Jeanne Hébuterne, the partner and muse of artist Amedeo Modigliani, died by suicide two days after his death. Their tragic love story became a symbol of bohemian sacrifice and posthumous artistic fame.
📍 Paris, France
Pepsi-Cola was registered as a trademark by Caleb Bradham, formalizing the brand that would grow into a global beverage giant and a longtime rival to Coca-Cola.
📍 North Carolina, United States
Following the death of Alexander III, Nicholas II was officially crowned Tsar of Russia. His reign would witness the fall of the Russian Empire and the 1917 Revolution that led to the rise of the Soviet Union.
📍 Moscow, Russia
The U.S. Congress approved legislation creating the five-cent coin composed of nickel and copper. The coin replaced the earlier silver half-dime and remains a key part of U.S. currency today.
📍 Washington, D.C., United States
Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from a U.S. medical school, breaking gender barriers and paving the way for women in the field of medicine.
📍 Geneva, New York, United States
Archduchess Marie Antoinette of Austria married Louis-Auguste, the future King Louis XVI of France. The union was meant to strengthen Franco-Austrian ties but ended in tragedy during the French Revolution.
📍 Versailles, France
Peter the Great founded the Russian Academy of Sciences to modernize Russia through scientific advancement and education. It became a cornerstone of Russia’s intellectual and academic development.
📍 St. Petersburg, Russia