May 12

Built by the Italian firm Cantiere Navale Triestino, the Norge departed from Rome before flying via Spitzbergen toward the Arctic. On May 12, it crossed directly above the geographic North Pole, achieving the first verified overflight of the region. The multidisciplinary expedition, funded in part by American financier Lincoln Ellsworth, conducted meteorological and magnetic observations en route. After surveying the polar pack ice, the Norge continued on to Teller, Alaska, covering over 3,000 miles. Its success validated airships as viable vehicles for polar exploration and inspired subsequent scientific flights to both poles.

On May 12, 1941, Konrad Zuse publicly demonstrates the Z3 in Berlin, marking the debut of the world’s first programmable, fully automatic computer. The electromechanical machine used 2,000 relays to perform calculations and could be programmed via punched film tapes. Zuse’s invention laid the foundation for modern computer architecture and influenced later developments in computing. Despite its groundbreaking design, the original Z3 was destroyed in an air raid during World War II, and only reconstructions exist today. The Z3’s demonstration represented a major leap in automation and computational capability, foreshadowing the digital revolution.

Luna 5, launched by the Soviet Union in May 1965, aimed to perform the first soft landing on the lunar surface. On May 12, its engines malfunctioned during the descent, causing the spacecraft to collide at high speed. The impact was captured by Soviet tracking stations, confirming the mission’s failure to land gently. Despite the setback, Luna 5 provided valuable data on lunar gravitational fields and communication techniques. The mission contributed to improvements in targeting and landing technologies for future lunar probes. Luna 5’s attempt set the stage for subsequent successful landings by both Soviet and American programs.

Beginning on May 12, 2017, the WannaCry ransomware exploited a Windows vulnerability to encrypt files on computers across more than 150 countries. Hospitals in the United Kingdom's National Health Service were forced to cancel appointments and divert emergency patients. Telefónica and other major corporations saw critical systems locked by the malware. A security researcher accidentally discovered a kill switch that helped halt the global spread. The attack spotlighted the importance of timely software updates and robust cybersecurity practices. It led governments and organizations to review digital defenses and collaboration on cyber threat intelligence.