Magellan Finds the Strait at the End of South America
On October 21, 1520, Ferdinand Magellan's fleet entered the strait at the southern tip of South America, opening a route to the Pacific.
The Victoria Completes the First Circumnavigation of the Globe
On September 6, 1522, the Victoria returned to Spain, the first ship to circumnavigate the globe, with 18 survivors and a cargo of cloves.
The Gregorian Calendar Takes Effect
On October 4, 1582, the last Julian calendar day ended in Catholic Europe; the next was October 15.
Pope Gregory XIII Introduces the Gregorian Calendar
The Gregorian calendar took effect on October 15, 1582, dropping ten days to correct the drift of the old Julian calendar.
Britain Adopts the Gregorian Calendar and Skips Eleven Days
On September 2, 1752, Britain skipped eleven days to adopt the Gregorian calendar, and September 3 to 13 of that year never happened.
Garnerin Makes the First Parachute Jump
Andre-Jacques Garnerin made the first parachute jump on October 22, 1797, from a balloon over Paris. He landed safely.
Champollion Announces That He Has Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs
On September 27, 1822, Champollion announced to the French Academy that he had deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway Opens
On September 15, 1830, the Liverpool to Manchester railway opened, the first modern intercity line, and killed MP William Huskisson.
Michael Faraday Discovers Electromagnetic Induction
Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction on October 17, 1831, the principle behind the electric generator and the transformer.
Alfred Nobel Is Born in Stockholm
On October 21, 1833, Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel prizes, was born in Stockholm.
Elias Howe Patents the Lockstitch Sewing Machine
On September 10, 1846, Elias Howe patented the lockstitch sewing machine, the design that made machine sewing practical.
Neptune Is Found Where the Mathematics Said It Would Be
On September 23, 1846, Neptune was observed at Berlin within a degree of the position predicted by Le Verrier's mathematics.
Ether Anesthesia Is Demonstrated Publicly in Boston
The first public use of ether anesthesia took place in Boston on October 16, 1846, changing surgery forever.
James Young Simpson Shows Chloroform Can Kill Pain
On November 4, 1847, James Young Simpson used chloroform as an anesthetic in Edinburgh.
Henri Giffard Flies the First Powered Airship
On September 24, 1852, Henri Giffard flew the first powered airship, 27 kilometres from Paris to Trappes.
The Journal Nature Is Published
On November 4, 1869, the first issue of the journal Nature appeared in London, edited by the astronomer Norman Lockyer.
A Filament That Would Not Burn Out
Edison lit a carbon filament lamp for 13 and a half hours on October 21, 1879, making electric lighting practical.
Edison Tests the Practical Light Bulb
Thomas Edison tested the first practical incandescent light bulb on October 21, 1879. The carbon filament burned for over thirteen hours.
Alfred Wegener Is Born
Alfred Wegener, born on November 1, 1880, argued that the continents had once been joined and had drifted apart.
The World's First Hydroelectric Power Station Starts Operating
On September 30, 1882, the Vulcan Street Plant in Appleton, Wisconsin, became the world's first hydroelectric power station.
The International Meridian Conference Chooses Greenwich
The International Meridian Conference chose Greenwich as the prime meridian on October 13, 1884, fixing the world's zero line of longitude.
The First Electric Underground Railway Opens
On November 4, 1890, the City and South London Railway opened the first deep level electric underground line in the world.
Boston Subway Opens: First in North America
On September 1, 1897, Boston opened the Tremont Street Subway, the first subway tunnel in North America. It still carries trains today.
New York's First Subway Opens
New York City opened its first subway line on October 27, 1904, a nine-mile run that reshaped the city.
Einstein Publishes the Paper That Introduces E=mc2
On September 27, 1905, Einstein's paper on mass and energy was published, introducing the relation E=mc squared.
The Wright Brothers Fly 24 Miles
On October 5, 1905, Wilbur Wright flew 24 miles in 39 minutes, a record that stood until 1908.
Santos-Dumont Makes a Powered Flight
Alberto Santos-Dumont made the first officially witnessed flight in Europe on October 23, 1906, in his 14-bis aircraft.
The First Ford Model T Is Built at the Piquette Plant
On September 27, 1908, Ford built the first Model T at its Piquette plant in Detroit, beginning the age of the cheap car.
The Gamboa Dike Is Blown, Completing the Panama Canal
The Gamboa dike was blown on October 10, 1913, flooding the Culebra Cut and completing the Panama Canal after 33 years of work.
Tanks Are Used in Battle for the First Time
On September 15, 1916, British tanks were used for the first time in battle at Flers-Courcelette on the Somme.
KLM Is Founded, the Oldest Airline Still Flying Under Its Own Name
KLM was founded in The Hague on October 7, 1919, and remains the oldest airline in the world flying under its original name.
The First Commercial Radio Station Goes on the Air
On November 2, 1920, station KDKA in Pittsburgh went on the air, and it is counted as the first commercial radio station in the United States.
Baird Shows the First Television
On October 30, 1925, John Logie Baird demonstrated television, sending a moving image by wire.
Alexander Fleming Notices That Mould Kills Bacteria
On September 28, 1928, Alexander Fleming found that a mould had killed bacteria in a dish, and penicillin was discovered.
Thomas Edison Dies at 84
Thomas Edison died on October 18, 1931, aged 84, holding 1,093 American patents.
Leo Szilard Conceives the Nuclear Chain Reaction
On September 12, 1933, Leo Szilard conceived the nuclear chain reaction while crossing a street in Bloomsbury, London.
The Liner Queen Mary Is Launched at Clydebank
On September 26, 1934, the Queen Mary was launched at Clydebank, the largest British liner built to that date.
Hoover Dam Is Dedicated
On September 30, 1935, Franklin Roosevelt dedicated Hoover Dam, the tallest dam in the world, on the Colorado River.
The BBC Launches the World's First Regular TV Service
On November 2, 1936, the BBC started the world's first regular TV service from London. The sets were few, but the habit of scheduled viewing began here.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress Makes Its First Flight
On September 21, 1942, the first B-29 Superfortress flew from Seattle, the largest and most advanced bomber of the Second World War.
The First V-2 Rocket Reaches Space
On October 3, 1942, a German V-2 rocket reached 84.5 km, the first man-made object to reach space.
Streptomycin Isolated at Rutgers
Streptomycin, the first drug effective against tuberculosis, was isolated at Rutgers University on October 19, 1943. It came from a soil bacterium.
The First Photograph of Earth from Space
A V-2 rocket carried a camera to 105 kilometres on 24 October 1946 and took the first photograph of the Earth from space.
A Moth Is Found in the Harvard Mark II Computer
On September 9, 1947, a moth found in a relay of the Harvard Mark II became the first documented computer bug.
Soichiro Honda Founds the Honda Motor Company
On September 24, 1948, Soichiro Honda founded the Honda Motor Company in Japan with 34 workers and a bicycle engine.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences Is Founded
On November 1, 1949, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was founded in Beijing with Guo Moruo as its first president.
Britain Tests Its First Atomic Bomb
On October 3, 1952, Britain detonated its first atomic bomb, Hurricane, off Western Australia.
The United States Tests the First Hydrogen Bomb
On November 1, 1952, the U.S. detonated Ivy Mike, the first hydrogen bomb, at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific.
The Convention Establishing CERN Is Signed
On September 29, 1954, twelve countries signed the convention establishing CERN, the European particle physics laboratory near Geneva.
The First Transistor Radio Goes on Sale
On October 18, 1954, Texas Instruments announced the Regency TR-1, the first transistor radio sold to the public, a pocket sized set.
TAT-1, the First Transatlantic Telephone Cable, Opens
On September 25, 1956, TAT-1 opened as the first transatlantic telephone cable, carrying 36 simultaneous calls between Britain and North America.
The United States Conducts Its First Underground Nuclear Test
On September 19, 1957, the US fired Rainier, its first fully contained underground nuclear test, in a tunnel in Nevada.
The Soviet Union Launches Sputnik 1
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite in orbit.
The Soviet Union Sends a Dog Into Orbit
On November 3, 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik 2 with Laika, the first animal in orbit.
Jack Kilby Builds the First Working Integrated Circuit
On September 12, 1958, Jack Kilby ran the first working integrated circuit, putting every component on one piece of semiconductor.
NASA Begins Operating
On October 1, 1958, NASA began operating in the United States, replacing the NACA after the Sputnik launches.
Luna 3 Photographs the Far Side of the Moon
Luna 3 photographed the far side of the Moon on October 7, 1959, and sent back the first images of a hemisphere never seen from Earth.
The USS Enterprise, First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier, Is Launched
On September 24, 1960, the USS Enterprise was launched at Newport News, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the world.
The First Successful Kidney Transplant in Britain
On October 30, 1960, the surgeon Michael Woodruff performed the first successful kidney transplant in Britain, between identical twins.
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring Is Published
On September 27, 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, which led to the ban on DDT and the modern environmental movement.
Japan's Shinkansen Begins High-Speed Service
On October 1, 1964, Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen opened between Tokyo and Osaka at 210 km/h.
Voskhod 1 Carries Three Cosmonauts Into Orbit
The Soviet Union launched Voskhod 1 on October 12, 1964, the first spacecraft to carry three people, in a rushed bid to beat Gemini.
China Explodes Its First Atomic Bomb
China exploded its first atomic bomb at Lop Nur on October 16, 1964, becoming the fifth country with nuclear weapons.
Scientists Uncover the Lantian Man Skull in China
On November 3, 1964, Chinese scientists reported the Lantian Man skull, an early human fossil.
China Tests a Nuclear-Armed Missile
On October 27, 1966, China carried out its first flight test of a nuclear-armed missile, which detonated at its target in the west.
The Outer Space Treaty Enters Into Force
The Outer Space Treaty entered into force on October 10, 1967, banning national claims on the Moon and weapons of mass destruction in orbit.
Apollo 7 Launches, the First Crewed Flight After the Fire
Apollo 7 launched on October 11, 1968, the first crewed Apollo flight after the 1967 fire, and spent eleven days in orbit.
Apollo 7 Returns Safely to Earth
Apollo 7 splashed down on October 22, 1968, completing the first crewed Apollo mission. It cleared the way for the flight to the Moon.
The First Network Link Is Made
On October 29, 1969, ARPANET sent its first message between two computers, the seed of the internet.
Mariner 10 Is Launched Toward Mercury
On November 3, 1973, the American probe Mariner 10 was launched toward Mercury, which it reached in March 1974.
Viking 2 Lands on Mars at Utopia Planitia
On September 3, 1976, Viking 2 landed on Mars at Utopia Planitia and ran the first experiments designed to detect life there.
NASA Launches Voyager 1 Toward the Outer Planets
On September 5, 1977, NASA launched Voyager 1, which later became the first human-made object to reach interstellar space.
The Gotthard Road Tunnel Opens Through the Swiss Alps
On September 5, 1980, Switzerland opened the 16.9 km Gotthard Road Tunnel, then the longest road tunnel in the world.
Kathryn Sullivan Becomes the First American Woman to Walk in Space
Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space on October 11, 1984, during the Challenger mission.
The Montreal Protocol Is Signed to Save the Ozone Layer
On September 16, 1987, nations signed the Montreal Protocol to phase out CFCs and protect the ozone layer. It is the only UN treaty ratified by every country.
The Morris Worm Spreads Through the Internet
On November 2, 1988, the Morris worm spread through the internet and disabled a large part of it, the first such case to reach the courts.
The Galileo Spacecraft Is Launched to Jupiter
On October 18, 1989, the Galileo spacecraft was launched aboard the shuttle Atlantis on a six year journey to Jupiter.
51 Pegasi b, the First Planet Found Orbiting a Sun-Like Star
On October 6, 1995, the first planet found orbiting a sun-like star was announced: 51 Pegasi b, a hot Jupiter.
The First Internet Bank Opens
On October 18, 1995, Security First Network Bank opened as the first US bank to run entirely over the internet, with no branches.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Opens for Signature
On September 24, 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty opened for signature, banning all nuclear test explosions.
Mars Global Surveyor Reaches Mars Orbit
On September 11, 1997, Mars Global Surveyor entered orbit around Mars and went on to map the whole planet for nine years.
Google Is Incorporated by Larry Page and Sergey Brin
On September 4, 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin incorporated Google in California, built around the PageRank link algorithm.
John Glenn Returns to Space at 77
On October 29, 1998, John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, returned to space at the age of 77 aboard the shuttle Discovery.
NASA Loses Contact with the Mars Climate Orbiter
On September 23, 1999, NASA lost the Mars Climate Orbiter because of a mismatch between imperial and metric units.
China Launches the First Beidou Satellite
On October 31, 2000, China launched the first satellite of the Beidou navigation system, its own satellite positioning service.
Apple Introduces the iPod
Apple released the iPod on October 23, 2001, a player that held a thousand songs. It transformed music and made Apple a giant.
China Launches Shenzhou 5, Its First Crewed Spaceflight
China launched Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003, carrying Yang Liwei, making it the third country to send a human into space alone.
The Large Hadron Collider Is Powered Up
On September 10, 2008, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN ran its first beam around its 27 km ring, starting the biggest physics experiment.
China Launches Shenzhou 7 with Three Astronauts
On September 25, 2008, China launched Shenzhou 7, and Zhai Zhigang performed the first Chinese spacewalk two days later.
India Launches Its First Moon Mission
On October 22, 2008, India launched Chandrayaan-1, its first lunar mission, which found evidence of water on the Moon.
India Launches a Mission to Mars
On November 5, 2013, India launched the Mars Orbiter Mission, which went into orbit around Mars in September 2014.
LIGO Detects Gravitational Waves for the First Time
On September 14, 2015, LIGO detected gravitational waves from merging black holes, confirming a prediction Einstein made in 1916.
China Launches Shenzhou 13 With Three Astronauts
Shenzhou 13 launched on October 16, 2021, carrying three astronauts for six months aboard the Tiangong space station.
The Third Piece
China launched the Mengtian laboratory module on October 31, 2022, completing the T-shaped assembly of its space station.