Historical Events tagged with "helium"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Accidents & Tragedies

USS Macon Airship Crashes into Pacific Ocean

February 12th, 1935 90 years ago

The USS Macon, a helium-filled airship operated by the United States Navy, crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California after a structural failure. Known for its size and innovative design, the Macon was capable of carrying a fleet of fighter planes. The incident occurred while it was on a test flight. Despite rescue efforts, the airship sank quickly, resulting in the loss of two crew members.

Continue Reading
Space Exploration

Pierre Janssen Discovers Helium in Solar Spectrum

August 18th, 1868 156 years ago

French astronomer Pierre Janssen, while observing the solar spectrum during a total solar eclipse in Guntur, India, discovered a new element. Upon analyzing the light emitted by the sun, he identified a spectral line that did not correspond to any known element at the time, which was later confirmed to be helium. This unexpected discovery was significant, expanding our understanding of elemental composition in celestial bodies.

Continue Reading