Historical Events tagged with "science"

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.

Technology & Innovation

IBM Unveils the Harvard Mark I Calculator

August 7th, 1944 80 years ago

The IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, known as the Harvard Mark I, was dedicated at Harvard University. Designed by Howard Aiken and built by IBM, this groundbreaking calculator was a significant leap in computational technology. Spanning over 55 feet, it was able to perform complex calculations automatically, laying the groundwork for future computers. The dedication ceremony, attended by various academics and engineers, highlighted the collaboration between Harvard and IBM, ushering in a new era of computing capabilities.

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Science & Technology

Albert Hofmann's First LSD Self-Dose

April 19th, 1943 81 years ago

Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist, intentionally ingested LSD after discovering its psychedelic effects three days earlier. On this occasion, he rode his bicycle home from his laboratory in Basel, Switzerland, experiencing vivid hallucinations and altered perception. This day marks the first known intentional self-experimentation with LSD, a substance later classified as a powerful psychedelic.

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Science & Technology

First Nuclear Chain Reaction Achieved

December 2nd, 1942 82 years ago

A team led by Enrico Fermi successfully initiated the first artificial self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at the University of Chicago's Stagg Field. This groundbreaking experiment was part of the Manhattan Project, aimed at developing atomic energy and weaponry during World War II. The achievement marked a pivotal moment in nuclear physics, demonstrating that controlled nuclear fission was feasible.

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Science & Technology

Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg Isolates Plutonium

February 23rd, 1941 84 years ago

Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg successfully produced and isolated plutonium for the first time in a laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. This groundbreaking achievement marked a significant milestone in nuclear chemistry and paved the way for future research into actinides and nuclear energy. The isolation of plutonium was crucial for both scientific inquiry and the development of atomic energy, occurring during a time when the world was on the brink of global conflict.

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Science & Technology

George Stibitz's Remote Computer Operation

September 9th, 1940 84 years ago

George Stibitz successfully demonstrated the ability to operate a computer remotely using a telegraph in 1940. This innovative feat took place when Stibitz, a mathematician at Bell Telephone Laboratories, operated his binary calculator, the Model K, from his home in New York using a telegraph line connected to the laboratory. This revolutionary demonstration showcased the potential for remote computing that would later lay the groundwork for modern computing and networking.

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Science & Technology

Ernest Lawrence Receives Nobel Prize in Berkeley

February 29th, 1940 85 years ago

Physicist Ernest Lawrence was presented with the 1939 Nobel Prize in Physics during a ceremony held in Berkeley, California. The prize was awarded for his invention of the cyclotron, a device that accelerates particles to high energies, which has significantly advanced the field of nuclear physics. The consul general of Sweden in San Francisco officiated the ceremony, highlighting the recognition bestowed upon Lawrence by the international scientific community. This event not only marked a personal achievement for Lawrence but also underscored the importance of the contributions made by American scientists in the field of physics.

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Science & Technology

Discovery of Carbon-14 by Kamen and Ruben

February 27th, 1940 85 years ago

Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discovered carbon-14 while working at the University of California, Berkeley. The isotope was produced in a cyclotron, a particle accelerator, and was identified as a crucial tool for radiocarbon dating. This discovery provided a new method for determining the age of organic materials, transforming the fields of archaeology, geology, and environmental science.

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Science & Technology

Oppenheimer and Snyder Introduce Black Hole Model

September 1st, 1939 85 years ago

J. Robert Oppenheimer and his student Hartland Snyder revealed the Oppenheimer–Snyder model, which elegantly articulated how black holes could form within the framework of general relativity. This groundbreaking work illustrated the gravitational collapse of massive stars, providing a theoretical basis for the existence of black holes, a topic that had tantalized physicists for years. Their collaborative research marked a significant advancement in modern astrophysics, bridging the gap between theoretical predictions and astronomical phenomena.

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Politics & Government

Einstein and Szilard urge nuclear weapon development

August 2nd, 1939 85 years ago

Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard collaborated on a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, emphasizing the urgency of nuclear research and urging the U.S. government to invest in atomic weapons development. The letter highlighted the potential threat posed by Nazi Germany, which could potentially develop nuclear weapons first, thereby prompting the need for the United States to take immediate action. Einstein's renown as a physicist magnified the letter's importance, as he warned of the heavier atomic bombs that could result from nuclear fission discoveries.

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