2011
The British newspaper, News of the World, published its last-ever edition following a phone-hacking scandal.
After 168 years in print, the newspaper came to an end after the owner Rupert Murdoch received a high amount of criticism after his staff was accused of phone hacking and police bribing to obtain the newspapers’ stories.
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2007
Erden Eruç began the world’s first successful solo human-powered circumnavigation of the world.
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1976
A chemical factory in Seveso, near Milan, Italy, exploded, covering surrounding areas in dioxin.
The chemical factory produced cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and when a chemical reactor exploded, a cloud of dioxin spread across neighboring towns, causing terrible health implications for residents. If exposed to high levels of dioxin, you can increase your risk of developing cancer, you can experience developmental problems, and it can affect your immune system.
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1965
The Beatles’ album “VI” topped the Billboard charts at number one and stayed there for six weeks.
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1962
Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for a demonstration he was involved in during December 1961.
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1962
NASA launched Telstar 1, the world’s first active communications satellite.
Telstar 1 was developed and operated jointly by NASA and AT&T. While it wasn’t the first communications satellite ever launched, it was the first to amplify signals in space before sending them back to earth. This made it the first satellite to transmit TV signals between Europe and the United States. After seven months in orbit, it was rendered useless by high-altitude nuclear tests.
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1940
Nazi forces moved on Britain for the first time after attacking shipping containers in the English Channel.
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1938
Aviator Howard Hughes started his around-the-world flight.
The journey began and ended at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York, and took him 91 hours to complete.
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1936
West Virginia had its hottest day on record at a sweltering 112°F (44°C).
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1925
The Scopes Monkey Trial took place in Dayton, Tennessee.
The trial occurred due to the fact that science teacher John T. Scopes taught evolution in his classroom. At the time, this violated the Butler Act, a law that prohibited public school teachers from denying the Biblical account of mankind’s origin.
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1890
Wyoming became the 44th state to join the United States of America.
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1778
Louis XVI of France declared war on Great Britain during the American Revolution.
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1553
Lady Jane Grey began her 9-day reign as the Queen of England, France, and Ireland.
After Edward VI died, his will stated that Lady Jane Grey should become queen. However, King Henry VIII’s daughter Mary had countless supporters, despite her claim to the throne being labeled as illegitimate. The Privy Council of England changed sides and announced that Mary was the rightful heir to the throne. Mary was proclaimed queen on July 19, 1553.
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48 BC
The Battle of Dyrrhachium occurred.
The battle happened during Caesar’s Civil War. The fight was between Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompey. Pompey was victorious on this day, and up to 6,000 lives were lost.
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