(1898) Pierre and Marie Curie discover the element radium |
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The husband-wife team discovers the existence of the radioactive element radium. The pair will win a Nobel Prize for their work with radiation, making Madame Curie the first woman to win a Nobel, and she’ll win another a few years later. Marie Curie will die from radiation exposure in 1934. |
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(1913) The first crossword puzzle is published |
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Arthur Wynne introduces a new puzzle called ‘Word-Cross’ in the New York World newspaper’s ‘Fun’ section. The diamond-shaped grid has numbered squares, clues, and simple instructions to fill the blanks. A typographical error a few weeks later will change the name to ‘Cross-Word.’ That one will stick. |
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(1988) Bomb brings down Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland |
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The New York-bound flight explodes in midair over Lockerbie, killing 270 people, including 11 on the ground. Islamic terrorists will be accused of planting the bomb, hidden in a tape player in the Boeing 747’s cargo hold. In 2003, Libya will take responsibility for the bombing. |
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(1991) Eleven of 12 former Soviet republics form commonwealth |
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Having previously declared independence from the USSR, 11 Soviet republics proclaim the creation of a new alliance, the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Republic of Georgia, dealing with a civil war, abstains. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will step down a few days later and the Soviet Union will dissolve. |
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DIH v2.11.d16 |