Gravitational waves were detected for the first time in history
MajorScientists announced they had directly observed ripples in spacetime caused by two colliding black holes 1.3 billion light-years away. This discovery...
February 11 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2016
2013
Pope Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years
MajorIn a stunning announcement made in Latin during a routine meeting, the 85-year-old pontiff declared he no longer had the strength to fulfill his dutie...
2012
Whitney Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub
The legendary singer, who possessed one of the greatest voices in music history, died at age 48 on the eve of the Grammy Awards. Her death from accide...
1997
Space Shuttle Discovery's crew performed the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission
Astronauts installed two new instruments and replaced failing equipment during five spacewalks. The mission included replacing the Near Infrared Camer...
1990
Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years
MajorAfter nearly three decades of imprisonment for his anti-apartheid activism, Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison in South Africa. His...
1979
The Iranian Revolution officially ended the Iranian monarchy
Followers of Ayatollah Khomeini seized power, overthrowing Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's government after months of protests. The revolution transforme...
1975
Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to lead a major British political party
Thatcher defeated Edward Heath to become leader of the Conservative Party, shattering gender barriers in British politics. Four years later, she would...
1971
Eighty-seven countries signed a treaty banning nuclear weapons from the ocean floor
The Seabed Arms Control Treaty prohibited placing nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction on the seabed beyond a 12-mile coastal zone. It was o...
1963
Sylvia Plath was found dead in her London apartment at age 30
The brilliant poet and author of 'The Bell Jar' died by suicide just weeks after her semi-autobiographical novel was published. Her final collection,...
1937
A sit-down strike at General Motors ended after 44 days with union recognition
Workers at the Flint, Michigan plant had occupied the factory, refusing to work or leave, in one of the most important labor actions in American histo...
1929
The Lateran Treaty established Vatican City as an independent state
MajorBenito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Pacts, creating the world's smallest country at just 110 acres. The agreement ended the 'Roman Qu...
1928
The Winter Olympics opened in St. Moritz, Switzerland with terrible weather
The second Winter Olympics began with unseasonably warm temperatures and a complete lack of snow, forcing organizers to import snow by truck and postp...
1916
Emma Goldman was arrested for lecturing about birth control
The anarchist activist was taken into custody in New York City for giving a public talk explaining contraception methods, which was illegal under the...
1847
Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio
MajorThe man who would become America's greatest inventor entered the world in a small Ohio town. Edison would go on to hold 1,093 U.S. patents and invent...
1809
Robert Fulton patented the steamboat
The American engineer secured exclusive rights to steamboat navigation in New York waters for 30 years. While Fulton didn't invent the steamboat, his...