The asteroid Apophis will pass extremely close to Earth
This near-Earth asteroid will come within 19,000 miles of our planet, closer than many satellites. While there's no danger of impact, the close approa...
April 13 in History
Significant events that happened on this day.
Historical Events
2029
2012
A man in the UK legally changed his name to "Bacon Double Cheeseburger"
The 33-year-old from Cambridgeshire legally changed his name as part of a publicity stunt for a fast food chain, though he claimed he did it because h...
1997
Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament at age 21
Woods not only won but dominated the tournament, finishing with a record-breaking 12-stroke victory margin. His win marked a turning point for golf, b...
1992
A sewage tunnel flooded downtown Chicago, causing $2 billion in damages
The Great Chicago Flood occurred when workers accidentally breached an old freight tunnel under the Chicago River, flooding the downtown Loop district...
1970
Apollo 13's oxygen tank exploded, forcing the mission to abort its moon landing
MajorAt 55 hours into the flight, an oxygen tank exploded, crippling the spacecraft and turning the mission into a desperate survival story. The crew famou...
1964
Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor
MajorPoitier won the Oscar for his role in "Lilies of the Field," breaking a major barrier in Hollywood. His acceptance of the award was a watershed moment...
1949
A Chinese restaurateur in San Francisco invented the fortune cookie's folding technique
While fortune cookies had existed in various forms, the modern folding method was perfected on this day. Ironically, fortune cookies are virtually unk...
1943
The Jefferson Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. on Thomas Jefferson's 200th birthday
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the memorial on what would have been Jefferson's bicentennial. The timing was intentional, honoring the Foun...
1860
The Pony Express began its first relay from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California
This legendary mail delivery service used horseback riders to carry mail across the American frontier in just 10 days, replacing the previous 25-day s...
1796
The first elephant arrived in the United States, landing in New York City
This two-year-old female Asian elephant became a touring sensation, traveling up and down the East Coast. Americans were so unfamiliar with elephants...
1743
Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell, Virginia
MajorThe third President of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence was born on this day. Jefferson would go on to double...
1742
Handel's "Messiah" premiered in Dublin, Ireland
George Frideric Handel's most famous oratorio debuted at the New Music Hall in Dublin as a charitable performance. The "Hallelujah" chorus would becom...
1613
Pocahontas was captured by English colonists in Virginia
The daughter of Powhatan chief was taken hostage by Captain Samuel Argall to use as a bargaining chip in negotiations. During her captivity, she conve...
1598
King Henry IV of France issued the Edict of Nantes, granting religious freedom to Protestants
MajorThis landmark decree ended decades of religious warfare in France by granting substantial rights and freedoms to the Huguenots (French Protestants). I...