1936day.year
Inventor Edwin Armstrong demonstrates FM broadcasting to an audience of engineers at the FCC in Washington, DC.
Inventor Edwin Armstrong showcased FM radio technology at the FCC in Washington, DC, in 1936.
On June 11, 1936, Edwin Armstrong presented his groundbreaking FM broadcasting system to FCC engineers.
His frequency modulation method promised dramatically clearer audio than traditional AM radio.
Armstrong’s live demonstration highlighted FM’s resistance to static and electrical interference.
The session at the Federal Communications Commission marked a pivotal moment in radio history.
Although commercial adoption would take years, the innovation eventually revolutionized broadcast media.
Armstrong’s work laid the foundation for the high-fidelity radio services we enjoy today.
1936
Edwin Armstrong
FM
FCC
Washington, DC
1968day.year
Lloyd J. Old identified the first cell surface antigens that could differentiate among different cell types.
In 1968, immunologist Lloyd J. Old discovered the first cell surface antigens distinguishing different cell types.
Researcher Lloyd J. Old published groundbreaking findings on June 11, 1968, identifying cell surface antigens capable of differentiating cell types. His work provided critical tools for immunology, enabling scientists to classify lymphocytes and trace immune responses. These antigens, later termed cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, revolutionized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in medicine. Old’s discovery paved the way for targeted cancer treatments and advanced blood typing methods. His contributions laid the foundation for modern flow cytometry techniques. Today, CD markers remain essential in research, clinical diagnostics, and immunotherapy.
1968
Lloyd J. Old
cell surface
antigens
cell types
2002day.year
Antonio Meucci is acknowledged as the first inventor of the telephone by the United States Congress.
The U.S. Congress formally recognizes Antonio Meucci as the original inventor of the telephone, predating Alexander Graham Bell.
On June 11, 2002, the United States Congress passed a resolution acknowledging Italian immigrant Antonio Meucci as the first inventor of the telephone, noting that his telettrofono experiments began in the early 1870s. Meucci had filed a caveat for his invention in 1871 but lacked funds to secure a full patent, which later allowed Alexander Graham Bell to obtain patent rights. The congressional acknowledgment aimed to correct historical records and honor Meucci's contributions to telecommunications. The resolution sparked renewed scholarly interest in Meucci's life, his technical drawings, and surviving prototypes. It also highlighted the broader themes of immigrant innovation and the complexities of intellectual property law. While symbolic, the decision underscored debates about the narratives we accept in the history of technology.
2002
Antonio Meucci
telephone
United States Congress
2004day.year
Cassini–Huygens makes its closest flyby of the Saturn moon Phoebe.
NASA's Cassini–Huygens mission conducts its closest approach to Phoebe, unveiling new insights into Saturn's distant moon.
On June 11, 2004, the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft executed a close flyby of Phoebe, one of Saturn's outer moons, passing within approximately 2,000 kilometers of its surface. The encounter yielded high-resolution images and spectral data that revealed Phoebe's dark, cratered terrain and unusual composition rich in water ice and organic compounds. Scientists concluded that Phoebe may be a captured object from the Kuiper Belt, shedding light on the early solar system's dynamics. Measurements of its mass and density also refined models of Saturn's gravitational influence on irregular satellites. The successful flyby demonstrated Cassini's versatile capabilities and expanded our understanding of planetary satellites and solar system evolution. Data from this mission segment continued to influence planetary science studies for years to come.
2004
Cassini–Huygens
Saturn
moon
Phoebe
2008day.year
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is launched into orbit.
NASA launches the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to explore the high-energy universe.
On June 11, 2008, NASA launched the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly GLAST) aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral. Equipped with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) and Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM), Fermi surveys the sky in gamma-ray wavelengths with unprecedented sensitivity. The mission has discovered new pulsars, mapped gamma-ray bursts, and provided insights into dark matter and cosmic ray origins. Fermi completes a full sky sweep every three hours, generating a continuous stream of high-energy data. Its groundbreaking observations have transformed our understanding of extreme astrophysical processes.
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope