1950day.year
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley announce the creation of element 98, which they name "californium".
Researchers at UC Berkeley announced in 1950 the discovery of element 98, californium, a new addition to the periodic table of elements.
On March 17, 1950, Glenn Seaborg’s team at the University of California, Berkeley bombarded curium with alpha particles to create element 98.
They named the new transuranic element californium in honor of the state and university’s contributions to nuclear science.
Californium exhibits strong neutron emission properties, making it valuable in nuclear reactors and medical therapies.
The discovery represented a milestone in synthetic element research during the mid-20th century.
Californium’s applications in neutron radiography and cancer treatment continue to impact science and industry today.
1950
University of California, Berkeley
californium
1958day.year
The United States launches the first solar-powered satellite, which is also the first satellite to achieve a long-term orbit.
The United States launched the first solar-powered satellite, Vanguard 1, on March 17, 1958, pioneering long-term orbital research.
On March 17, 1958, the Naval Research Laboratory launched Vanguard 1, the world’s first satellite to use solar cells for power.
Weighing just 1.5 kilograms, Vanguard 1 demonstrated that solar panels could sustain long-duration space missions.
Its orbit and radio beacon provided critical data on the Earth’s shape and upper atmosphere.
Although its transmitter ceased in 1964, the satellite remains the oldest human-made object in orbit.
Vanguard 1’s success paved the way for solar power as a standard energy source in spacecraft design.
1958
first solar-powered satellite
1966day.year
Off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean, the DSV Alvin submarine finds a missing American hydrogen bomb.
The DSV Alvin locates a missing U.S. hydrogen bomb off the coast of Spain.
The recovery marks a key moment in Cold War nuclear cleanup.
On March 17, 1966, the deep-submergence vehicle Alvin recovered a lost American hydrogen bomb from the Mediterranean seabed.
The weapon had been lost following a mid-air collision near Palomares, Spain, in January of that year.
Alvin's crew navigated challenging underwater terrain to pinpoint the bomb's location at a depth of over 2,500 feet.
The successful recovery operation ended weeks of dangerous salvage work.
This mission highlighted advances in deep-sea exploration technology and Cold War nuclear safety measures.
It underscored the risks of handling nuclear weapons in peacetime.
1966
DSV Alvin
missing American hydrogen bomb