“The entire history of mankind is, in any case, nothing but a prolonged fight to the death for the conquest of universal prestige and absolute power.”
Albert Camus, French-Algerian author
1. Pierre and Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium
On this day in history in 1902 Pierre and Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium. In 1903, the French couple received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering research.
2. A human organ was surgically replaced for the first time
On this day in history in 1951 A human organ was surgically replaced for the first time. Romanian surgeon Dan Gavriliu used a section of the stomach to bypass the esophagus.
3. Soviet air defense shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 902
On this day in history in 1978 Soviet air defense shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 902. The Boeing 707’s crew had miscalculated their route, taking them into Soviet airspace at the height of the Cold War. The jet made an emergency landing on a frozen lake. Two passengers were killed in the incident.
4. 15 persons died in the Columbine High School massacre
On this day in history in 1999, 15 persons died in the Columbine High School massacre. A further 24 victims were injured when two teenagers opened fire on students and teachers in the high school south of Denver.
5. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig explodes
On this day in history in 2010 The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded. The explosion of the British Petroleum (BP) platform operated by Transocean killed 11 workers and led to the largest accidental marine oil spill in history.
