July 25

Events - Science & Technology

1467day.year

The Battle of Molinella: The first battle in Italy in which firearms are used extensively.

In 1467, the Battle of Molinella became the first Italian conflict to employ firearms on a broad scale, signaling a shift in military technology.
Fought near Bologna on July 25, 1467, the Battle of Molinella involved forces from the Papal States, Milan, and Florence in a struggle for regional dominance. This engagement is notable for the extensive use of gunpowder weapons, including arquebuses and primitive artillery, marking a departure from traditional medieval warfare. Arquebusiers and hand-cannons proved decisive in breaking enemy formations and fortifications. Although the battle’s political outcome was inconclusive, it demonstrated the transformative impact of firearms on tactics and battlefield organization. The confrontation foreshadowed the rise of standing armies and the decline of heavily armored knights. Molinella thus occupies a pivotal place in the military revolution of the late Middle Ages.
1467 Battle of Molinella
1835day.year

James Bowman Lindsay demonstrates a constant electric light at a public meeting in Dundee, Scotland.

Inventor James Bowman Lindsay demonstrates a continuous electric light at a public meeting in Dundee, Scotland.
On July 25, 1835, Scottish inventor James Bowman Lindsay showcased the first practical demonstration of a constant electric light source. He presented a prototype filament lamp at a public meeting in Dundee, capturing attention for its steady illumination. Lindsay's work laid conceptual groundwork for later developments in electric lighting, even though he did not commercialize the invention. His experiments foreshadowed the incandescent bulbs that would revolutionize daily life. The demonstration remains a notable milestone in the history of electrical engineering.
1835 James Bowman Lindsay electric light Dundee, Scotland
1837day.year

The first commercial use of an electrical telegraph is successfully demonstrated in London by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone.

William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone successfully demonstrate the first commercial electrical telegraph in London.
On July 25, 1837, the first commercial use of an electrical telegraph was demonstrated in London by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone. They transmitted messages over a one-mile wire between Euston and Camden Town stations. This demonstration proved the feasibility of rapid long-distance communication. It sparked widespread interest in telegraphy and led to the expansion of telegraph networks across Britain. The event marked the beginning of a communication revolution that would shrink perceived distances around the world.
1837 electrical telegraph William Cooke Charles Wheatstone
1908day.year

Ajinomoto is founded. Kikunae Ikeda of the Tokyo Imperial University discovers that a key ingredient in kombu soup stock is monosodium glutamate (MSG), and patents a process for manufacturing it.

Kikunae Ikeda patents a process to produce MSG and founds Ajinomoto, transforming global culinary seasoning.
In 1908, chemist Kikunae Ikeda of Tokyo Imperial University identified monosodium glutamate (MSG) as the source of the savory "umami" taste in kombu broth. Recognizing its culinary potential, Ikeda patented a method to mass-produce MSG and established the Ajinomoto Company. The new seasoning rapidly gained popularity in Japan for its ability to enhance flavor in soups, sauces, and processed foods. Ajinomoto pioneered large-scale food additive manufacturing and spurred interest in food chemistry and nutrition. Over the decades, MSG became a ubiquitous ingredient worldwide, reshaping modern cooking practices. Ikeda's discovery laid the groundwork for the scientific study of taste and the global umami phenomenon.
1908 Ajinomoto Kikunae Ikeda Tokyo Imperial University kombu monosodium glutamate
1909day.year

Louis Blériot makes the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air machine from Calais to Dover, England, United Kingdom in 37 minutes.

Louis Blériot completes the first heavier-than-air flight across the English Channel, marking a milestone in aviation history.
On July 25, 1909, French aviator Louis Blériot took off from Calais and landed near Dover in just 37 minutes. Flying his Blériot XI monoplane, he overcame unpredictable winds and navigational challenges over open water. This landmark achievement demonstrated the viability of heavier-than-air flight for long-distance travel. Blériot's pioneering feat spurred rapid advancements in aircraft design and boosted public enthusiasm for aviation. Governments and entrepreneurs began investing in air transport infrastructure, recognizing its military and commercial potential. The Channel crossing cemented Blériot's status as one of history's greatest aviation innovators.
1909 Louis Blériot English Channel heavier-than-air machine Calais Dover, England, United Kingdom
1946day.year

The Crossroads Baker device is the first underwater nuclear weapon test.

The Crossroads Baker test conducted the first underwater detonation of a nuclear weapon at Bikini Atoll in 1946.
The Crossroads Baker test, conducted on July 25, 1946, was the world's first underwater nuclear detonation. Part of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll, the explosion took place 90 feet beneath the ocean surface. The blast generated a powerful shockwave that capsized and sank dozens of decommissioned warships. It also spread radioactive contamination across the lagoon, raising early concerns about nuclear fallout. This landmark experiment reshaped military thinking on nuclear warfare and environmental impact.
1946 Crossroads Baker
1973day.year

Soviet Mars 5 space probe is launched.

The USSR launches its Mars 5 probe, part of the Soviet Mars program to study the Red Planet from orbit.
On July 25, 1973, a Proton-K rocket lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying the Mars 5 orbiter. The mission aimed to transmit high-resolution images and scientific data on Martian surface features and atmosphere. It was the second Soviet probe in the Mars program following Mars 4. Mars 5 entered orbit around Mars in February 1974 and began transmitting data almost immediately. Despite a premature end to communications, the probe returned valuable information on temperature, dust storms, and surface composition. Its findings contributed to planning for later Mars exploration missions.
1973 Soviet Mars 5
1976day.year

Viking program: Viking 1 takes the famous Face on Mars photo.

NASA's Viking 1 spacecraft captures the now-famous ‘Face on Mars’ image, sparking speculation about extraterrestrial structures.
Viking 1, part of NASA’s Viking program, snapped a mysterious mesa in the Cydonia region on July 25, 1976. The formation appeared strikingly similar to a human face when viewed under certain lighting conditions. The ‘Face on Mars’ image captivated both the scientific community and the public, fueling theories of ancient Martian civilizations. Subsequent missions and higher-resolution imagery revealed the formation to be a natural landform shaped by erosion. Nevertheless, the photograph remains one of the most iconic and debated images in planetary exploration history. It highlighted the power of perception and promoted further missions to clarify Mars’ geological mysteries.
1976 Viking program Viking 1 Face on Mars
1978day.year

Birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first human to have been born after conception by in vitro fertilisation, or IVF.

Louise Joy Brown is born in England as the world’s first baby conceived by in vitro fertilisation (IVF), heralding a new era in reproductive medicine.
On July 25, 1978, Louise Joy Brown was born at Oldham General Hospital in the UK after being conceived via IVF. The groundbreaking procedure, pioneered by Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe, fertilized her egg in a laboratory before implantation in her mother. Her successful birth demonstrated that couples facing infertility could achieve pregnancy outside the human body. The milestone triggered global debates over the ethics, regulation, and future of assisted reproductive technologies. IVF has since helped millions of families worldwide conceive children who otherwise may not have been born. Louise Brown’s arrival remains a cornerstone in the history of modern medicine and fertility treatments.
Louise Joy Brown in vitro fertilisation
1984day.year

Salyut 7 cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya becomes the first woman to perform a space walk.

Svetlana Savitskaya becomes the first woman to perform a spacewalk during the Soviet Salyut 7 mission, advancing gender roles in space exploration.
On July 25, 1984, Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya exited the Salyut 7 space station for a 3-hour extravehicular activity (EVA). She became the first woman ever to conduct a spacewalk, installing research equipment and inspecting the station’s hull. Savitskaya’s achievement followed her earlier flight aboard Salyut 7 in 1982, making her the second woman in space. Her EVA challenged prevailing gender norms in the space programs of both superpowers during the Cold War. The mission demonstrated that women could undertake demanding technical tasks in orbit under extreme conditions. Savitskaya remains an inspiration for female astronauts and cosmonauts around the world.
1984 Salyut 7 cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya space walk