1499day.year
The Portuguese explorer Nicolau Coelho returns to Lisbon after discovering the sea route to India as a companion of Vasco da Gama.
Navigator Nicolau Coelho arrives in Lisbon after completing the pioneering sea voyage to India with Vasco da Gama.
In 1499, Nicolau Coelho successfully returned to Lisbon after circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope and reaching India alongside Vasco da Gama. As captain of one of the fleet’s ships, he demonstrated exceptional seamanship in uncharted Atlantic and Indian Ocean waters. Their voyage inaugurated direct maritime trade between Europe and Asia, bypassing traditional overland routes. The expedition’s success ushered in the Age of Discovery, transforming global commerce and geopolitics. Coelho’s experience and detailed charts became invaluable for subsequent Portuguese expeditions. His return was celebrated by King Manuel I, who rewarded the crew for their daring achievement. This milestone laid the groundwork for Portugal’s colonial empire and the spice trade’s expansion.
1499
Nicolau Coelho
Lisbon
Vasco da Gama
1938day.year
Howard Hughes begins a 91-hour airplane flight around the world that will set a new record.
Aviation pioneer Howard Hughes embarks on a record-setting global flight that lasts 91 hours.
On July 10, 1938, American aviator and industrialist Howard Hughes took off from New York to begin a nonstop flight around the world. Flying a specially modified Lockheed aircraft, Hughes aimed to break the existing records for duration and distance. Over the next 91 hours, he crossed three continents and seven oceans, demonstrating advances in aviation technology and endurance flying. The mission showcased Hughes’s engineering prowess and passion for pushing boundaries. Upon landing in New York, he was celebrated as a hero and record-breaker. The flight set a new standard for aircraft performance and influenced future long-distance air travel.
1938
Howard Hughes
airplane
1942day.year
World War II: An American pilot spots a downed, intact Mitsubishi A6M Zero on Akutan Island (the "Akutan Zero"), which the US Navy then uses to learn the aircraft's flight characteristics.
On July 10, 1942, US forces discovered the intact "Akutan Zero" fighter on Akutan Island, providing crucial technical insights into Japanese aircraft design.
After spotting the downed Mitsubishi A6M Zero in the Aleutian Islands, American recovery teams secured the intact wreck for analysis. Engineers and pilots meticulously examined its engine performance, armor plating, and maneuverability. This reverse engineering effort revealed the Zero's strengths and vulnerabilities, directly influencing new Allied aerial tactics. The captured aircraft allowed test pilots to compare flight characteristics under controlled conditions. Insights gained from the "Akutan Zero" helped develop improved fighter strategies in the Pacific Theater. The intelligence breakthrough boosted Allied confidence in countering Japan's air superiority.
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
Akutan Island
Akutan Zero
1962day.year
Telstar, the world's first communications satellite, is launched into orbit.
On July 10, 1962, Telstar, the first active communications satellite, was successfully launched into low Earth orbit.
Developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories in cooperation with NASA, Telstar revolutionized global communications. The satellite relayed the first live transatlantic television signals between the United States and Europe. Weighing 77 kilograms, Telstar carried microwave transponders operating in the C-band frequency. Its launch aboard a Delta rocket marked a milestone in satellite technology and paved the way for modern communication networks. Although its operational life was limited by radiation damage, Telstar's achievements demonstrated the feasibility of continuous space-based signal transmission. The mission inspired further advancements in telecommunications and paved the way for global broadcasting.
1962
Telstar
communications satellite
1995day.year
The NIOSH air filtration ratings update with the enactment of 42 CFR 84, previously published in the Federal Register. The new regulation includes rules governing the new N95 respirator standard.
The N95 respirator standard is established as part of updated NIOSH air filtration ratings in 1995.
On July 10, 1995, the U.S. federal regulation 42 CFR 84 was enacted, updating NIOSH's air filtration standards.
This overhaul introduced the N95 rating, certifying respirators that filter at least 95% of airborne particles.
It also defined classifications such as N99 and P100 for various filtration requirements.
Employers and health professionals quickly adopted N95 masks for protection against dust, pollutants, and pathogens.
The new standard standardized testing procedures and performance requirements nationwide.
Decades later, N95 respirators became critical during global health crises, including influenza outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This regulation remains the foundation for respiratory protective equipment in many industries.
NIOSH air filtration ratings
Federal Register
N95 respirator
1997day.year
In London, scientists report the findings of the DNA analysis of a Neanderthal skeleton which supports the "out of Africa theory" of human evolution, placing an "African Eve" at 100,000 to 200,000 years ago.
In 1997, scientists in London announced DNA analysis of a Neanderthal skeleton supporting the "Out of Africa" theory, tracing modern human maternal lineage to an "African Eve" 100,000–200,000 years ago.
In July 1997, a team of researchers in London unveiled the results of mitochondrial DNA analysis from a Neanderthal skeleton. The genetic study revealed a closer maternal relationship between modern humans and the Neanderthal sample than previously thought. These findings provided compelling support for the "Out of Africa" model of human origins, positing a single African origin for all modern humans. The scientists estimated a most recent common maternal ancestor, dubbed "African Eve," living approximately 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. This milestone in molecular anthropology challenged older multiregional theories and sparked widespread interest in evolutionary biology. The research exemplified the emerging role of DNA technologies in unraveling humanity’s ancient past.
1997
DNA
Neanderthal
out of Africa theory
human evolution
African Eve