1837
Charles Goodyear obtains his first rubber-processing patent. (US No. 240) India rubber would become sticky in the summer heat. Goodyear resolved this problem by devising a process to treat the rubber with metallic solutions such as copper nitrate and strong acid for a few minutes, before washing it with water. His patent explains the method and the use of a water paste of quicklime to bleach the rubber for various purposes. He obtains additional patents as he continued to revise his process using sulphur and oil of turpentine.
1867
Joseph Lister of Glasgow, Scotland becomes the first surgeon to perform surgery under antiseptic conditions.
1922
The idea of a radio network, conceived of as a public service, is proposed in a letter from David Sarnoff to E.W. Rice Jr., Honorary Chairman of the Board ofGeneral Electric Company. Rather than a public service, the first network will evolve into the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).
1928
Amelia Earhart embarks as a passenger on a trans-Atlantic flight from Newfoundland to Wales, becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The flight is twenty hours and forty minutes in duration, during which Earhart assists in navigation. In 1932, she will became the first woman to cross the Atlantic ocean alone.
1940
The first public demonstration of Phonovision, a coin-operated “video jukebox” developed by Sam Sax, former head of Warner in the UK and of the Vitaphone studio in Brooklyn, is given in New York. Initially using copies of old Vitaphone short films, the Phonovision Corporation intends to shoot new short-form musical material at the former Edison studio in the Bronx. The company claims to have received orders for forty thousand machines.
1946
The first commercial mobile phone becomes available.
1947
With a flight from New York City, Pan Am Airways launches the first globe-circling passenger airline in history. The fare to circumnavigate the globe is US$1,700. Visit the official Pan Am Historical Foundation website..
1967
China tests its first hydrogen bomb, a U-235 implosion fission device named “596,” 2,960 meters over the Lop Nur Test Ground. It is China’s first full-scale implosion weapon test, and its sixth nuclear test within thirty-two months, a record for the shortest development period of any nation’s nuclear weapons program.
1970
Edwin Land patents the Polaroid camera.
1977
Warner Bros. releases the horror film Exorcist II: The Heretic directed John Boorman by and starring Linda Blair, Richard Burton, Louise Fletcher, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, and Paul Henreid to 703 US theaters. The film is the sequel to The Exorcist. Produced on a budget of US$17.5 million, the film will gross US$6,735,000 domestically in its opening weekend. IMDB listing MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 1 hr 57 mins
1980
Atari’s arcade games Asteroids and Lunar Lander become the first two video games to be registered with the US Copyright Office.
1982
Atari grants Centuri exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and distribute the Tunnel Hunt arcade game.
1983
Logical International files a trademark infringement suit against Coleco Industries, claiming prior use of the name “Adam” for a computer.
1985
Morelos 1, the first Mexican satellite, is launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery. (STS-51-G) Morelos 1 is a geostationary communications satellite.
1987
With the death of the last specimen, held at Walt Disney World Resort’s Discovery Island nature reserve, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow becomes extinct. Read more at the Earth Witness Community.
1988
Sunsoft releases Blaster Master as Chô Wakusei Senki Metafight for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in Japan. The game will often be cited as one of the most challenging and original games for the NES. As in the innovative The Legend of Zelda, Blaster Master allows players to revisit previous areas at will. Another notable aspect of the game is the player’s ability to gain powers by defeating each level’s bosses, which seems to be inspired by the game Mega Man.
1991
The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Redemption Part 1” first airs. (No. 426) In it, Worf leaves the Enterprise to fight on behalf of Gowron in a Klingon civil war. The episode is the finale of season four. Memory Alpha entry
1994
Sega releases Crusader of Centy for the Sega Genesis. The game follows Corona, a boy who has just turned fourteen years of age. It is time for him to inherit his father’s sword and fight the “monsters” that threaten the human race’s very existence, attaining animals to help his quest along the way.
1996
Compaq Computer announces the Armada line of notebook computers, including the low-end 1100 series and high-end 4100 series. Compaq also announces three new models in the LTE 5300 line.
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Broken Link” first airs. (No. 426) In it, Odo returns to his people, the Changelings, to face judgment for killing one of his own. Memory Alpha entry
1997
At the PC Expo show, Corel releases WordPerfect Suite 8, which includes WordPerfect 8, QuattroPro 8, Presentations 8, PhotoHouse 1.1, Netscape Navigator 3.0, Envoy 7 viewer, CorelCentral, Bitstream Font Navigator 2. Price: US$395 Upgrade: US$179
An organized group of hackers successfully decipher computer code written in the Data Encryption Standard, the strongest legally exportable encryption software developed in the United States, following five months of collaborative work. The United States has hitherto banned stronger encryption software for fear of it falling into the hands of terrorists. However, the industry consensus has long been that such measure are useless as far stronger encryption schemes are available in other countries.
1998
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) and THQ releases the puzzle game Devil Dice (or Xi, pronounced ‘Sai’, in Japan) for the PlayStation in Europe and Japan
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Tears of the Prophets” first airs. (No. 626) In it, Starfleet Command begins an offensive against the Dominion. Sisko is chosen to lead the invasion of Cardassia, but the Cardassian-Dominion Alliance has secretly reinforced their frontline. Memory Alpha entry
1999
Digital Video Express abandons marketing its Divx pay-per-transaction DVD video scheme because it failed “to obtain adequate support from studios and other retailers” despite “strong consumer interest in the Divx feature.”
2002
Electronic Arts releases the motocross racing game Freekstyle for the GameCube and the PlayStation 2.
Lindows.com, Inc., whose mantra has been “Bringing Choice to Your Computer,” begins delivering on its promises by partnering with Microtel Computer Systems to ship Lindows.com’s Operating System, LindowsOS, pre-installed on their personal computers. For less than US$300, computer-buyers can purchase a Microtel computer running LindowsOS at Walmart.com.
Microsoft releases version 5.2 of the Internet Explorer web browser for the Mac OS X. Visit the official Internet Explorer website.
Midway Games releases Fireblade GameCube, PlayStation 2, and the XBox. ESRB: T (Teen)
2003
Activision Value Publishing, Inc. releases the simulation game Cruise Ship Tycoon for Windows. Visit the game’s official website. ESRB: T (Teen)
Capcom releases Resident Evil: Dead Aim for the PlayStation 2 in the US. It is the fourth game in the Gun Survivor series. ESRB: M (Mature)
Microsoft Game Studios releases the racing game Midtown Madness 3 for the XBox in the US. Visit the game’s official website. ESRB: E (Everyone)
Sega re-releases the platform game Sonic Adventure as Sonic Adventure DX: Director’s Cut for the GameCube in the US. It is the fourth release in the Gun Survivor series and the first to feature third-person movement. ESRB: E (Everyone)
THQ releases Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick for the personal computer, PlayStation 2 and Xbox in North America. It is based on the movie trilogy The Evil Dead. In the game, Ash Williams must once again save Dearborn, Michigan from the evil Deadites after Professor Raymond Knowby’s tape is played on a live television broadcast, opening a Vortex to the Undead. Visit the game’s official website. ESRB: M (Mature)
2004
Capcom releases Mega Man Battle Network 4 for the Game Boy Advance in North America. It is the fourth game in the MegaMan Battle Network series. Like Battle Network 3 before it, Battle Network 4 is released into two different versions, Red Sun and Blue Moon, that differ only in minor story and gameplay details. ESRB: E (Everyone)
Konami releases Frogger’s Adventures: The Rescue for Windows and the PlayStation 2 in Japan.
Konami releases the survival horror game Silent Hill 4: The Room for personal computers, the PlayStation 2, and the XBox in Japan. It’s the fourth installment in the Silent Hill series. Visit the game’s official website.
THQ releases Sonic Advance 3 for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. The game incorporates elements from Sonic Advance and Sonic Advance 2, as well as allowing the player to choose an additional partner, who augments the player’s actions.
2005
Roxor Games and RedOctane releases In the Groove for the PlayStation 2 in North America. Visit the game’s official website. ESRB: E (Everyone)
Squarecircleco. releases Heli Attack 3 for Windows. The game is the third in the Heli Attack series. Visit the game’s official website.
THQ releases the racing game Juiced for the personal computer, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in Europe. Visit the game’s official website. PEGI: 12+
2006
The fantasy film Death Note is released to Japanese theaters. The film is an adaptation of the popular Death Note manga series.
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