March 12

On March 12, 1989, British scientist Tim Berners-Lee submitted a proposal to CERN for a global hypertext project, intended to facilitate information sharing among scientists. His visionary concept introduced the ideas of URLs, HTTP, and HTML, which would later become core technologies of the World Wide Web. Initially met with cautious interest, the project gained support and was implemented over the next two years. The first website went online in 1991, revolutionizing access to information and communication worldwide. Berners-Lee's invention democratized the internet, transforming it into a user-friendly platform with profound social and economic impact.

On March 12, 2003, the World Health Organization issued its first global alert concerning the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a then-unknown respiratory illness. The warning urged member states to monitor and report suspected cases, implement quarantine measures, and strengthen infection control protocols. The rapidly spreading virus had emerged in China and was showing international transmission in Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Canada. WHO coordinated an unprecedented global response, including travel advisories and scientific collaboration to identify the causative coronavirus. The alert played a crucial role in containing the epidemic and shaping future international health emergency responses.