April 23

Events - Science & Technology

1891day.year

Chilean Civil War: The ironclad Blanco Encalada is sunk at Caldera Bay by torpedo boats.

During the Chilean Civil War, the ironclad Blanco Encalada is sunk by torpedo boats in Caldera Bay, becoming the first warship sunk by undersea weaponry.
On April 23, 1891, in the midst of the Chilean Civil War, rebel torpedo boats launched a surprise attack on the government ironclad Blanco Encalada at Caldera Bay. The vessel was struck by self-propelled torpedoes, marking the first successful sinking of a capital ship by this new technology. The rapid loss of the Blanco Encalada demonstrated the lethal effectiveness of torpedo warfare and altered naval tactics worldwide. The incident undermined government maritime capabilities and contributed to the rebels’ strategic advantage. This pioneering use of torpedoes heralded a new era in naval combat, influencing naval design and doctrines in the 20th century.
1891 Chilean Civil War Blanco Encalada is sunk Caldera Bay torpedo boats
1967day.year

Soviet space program: Soyuz 1 (Russian: Союз 1, Union 1) a crewed spaceflight carrying cosmonaut Colonel Vladimir Komarov is launched into orbit.

Soyuz 1, the Soviet Union’s first crewed Soyuz spacecraft, lifted off carrying cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov into orbit.
On April 23, 1967, the USSR launched Soyuz 1, marking the debut of the Soyuz spacecraft series with Colonel Vladimir Komarov aboard. The mission aimed to dock with Soyuz 2, but Soyuz 1 suffered a host of technical failures, including an un-deployed solar panel that led to power shortages and electrical malfunctions. Mission controllers struggled to maintain telemetry and orientation. During reentry on April 24, the main parachute failed to deploy properly, and the backup chute became entangled, causing a fatal crash landing. Komarov became the first human to die during a spaceflight, and the incident prompted a thorough redesign of the Soyuz capsule to enhance crew safety in future missions.
1967 Soviet space program Soyuz 1 cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov
2005day.year

The first YouTube video, titled "Me at the zoo", was published by co-founder Jawed Karim.

On April 23, 2005, YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim posted the first video, "Me at the zoo", launching a platform that would revolutionize online media.
On April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim, one of YouTube's co-founders, uploaded "Me at the zoo" – a brief clip filmed at the San Diego Zoo featuring Karim's commentary on elephants. This upload marked YouTube's first public video and the beginning of a global video-sharing phenomenon. The platform allowed anyone to create, share, and view videos online, transforming entertainment, news, and social engagement. Within years, YouTube grew into one of the world's largest websites, impacting pop culture and launching countless internet personalities. Today, "Me at the zoo" remains an iconic piece of digital history, symbolizing the democratization of media creation.
2005 YouTube Me at the zoo Jawed Karim