August 13

On August 13, 1889, inventor William Gray of Hartford, Connecticut, was granted U.S. Patent No. 408,709 for a coin-controlled apparatus for telephones. Gray’s design required users to deposit a coin before initiating a call, automating billing for public telephone services. This innovation made payphones commercially viable and accessible to a growing urban population. The mechanism regulated call duration based on the amount deposited. Gray’s patent catalyzed the spread of public telephony and transformed communication infrastructure. Coin-operated telephones became a ubiquitous feature in streets, train stations, and business establishments.

On August 13, 1898, astronomer Carl Gustav Witt at the Urania Observatory in Berlin discovered 433 Eros. Eros was the first asteroid identified whose orbit crosses that of Earth, classifying it as a near-Earth object. Named after the Greek god of love, the elongated asteroid measures over 30 kilometers in length. Its proximity to Earth allowed for detailed observations and spectral analysis of its composition. In 2000, NASA’s NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft conducted the first mission to orbit and land on an asteroid at Eros. The discovery advanced our understanding of asteroid orbits and planetary defense strategies.

On August 13, 1913, metallurgist Harry Brearley of Sheffield developed the first stainless steel by experimenting with chromium alloys. He discovered that adding around 12.8% chromium to low-carbon steel prevented rust and staining. Originally intended for gun barrels, the material quickly found broader use in cutlery, surgical instruments, and industrial machinery. Brearley’s innovation led to the founding of a global stainless steel industry. The alloy’s durability and hygiene properties transformed fields from cookware to construction. Stainless steel remains an indispensable material in modern engineering and design.

Major General Eugene Reybold of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the construction of pilot plants on August 13, 1942. These facilities would support the top-secret 'Development of Substitute Materials' project, better known as the Manhattan Project. The authorization marked the transition from theoretical research to large-scale engineering efforts. Sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Hanford, Washington, were soon selected for uranium enrichment and plutonium production. The project mobilized thousands of scientists, engineers, and laborers under strict wartime secrecy. The breakthroughs achieved would lead to the first atomic detonations in 1945, transforming modern warfare and energy production.

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins returned from history's first manned lunar landing mission. On August 13, 1969, they were honored with a ticker-tape parade along New York City's Canyon of Heroes, greeted by cheering crowds. Later that evening at a state dinner in Los Angeles, President Richard Nixon presented each crew member with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The dual celebrations recognized their pioneering achievements and the culmination of the Space Race. Millions watched the events on television, cementing the astronauts' status as global icons of exploration and American pride.