1848day.year
Vermont railroad worker Phineas Gage survives an iron rod 1+1⁄4 inches (3.2 cm) in diameter being driven through his brain; the reported effects on his behavior and personality stimulate discussion of the nature of the brain and its functions.
Railroad worker Phineas Gage survives an iron rod being driven through his skull in 1848, revolutionizing our understanding of brain function.
On September 13, 1848, foreman Phineas Gage was packing explosive powder with a metal tamping rod when it detonated, propelling the 3.2 cm-diameter iron bar through his left cheek and out the top of his skull. Remarkably, Gage remained conscious and was able to walk with assistance immediately after the accident. Although he made a physical recovery, his friends and physicians noted profound changes in his personality and behavior, including impulsivity and mood swings. His case provided the first documented evidence linking specific brain regions to aspects of personality and decision-making. Surgeons Henry Jacob Bigelow and later John Martyn Harlow studied Gage’s injury and reported on its implications. The accident sparked widespread debate among neurologists and psychologists about the localization of brain functions. Gage’s experience remains one of the most famous and influential case studies in neuroscience.
1848
Phineas Gage
1898day.year
Hannibal Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film.
Inventor Hannibal Goodwin secures a patent for celluloid photographic film, revolutionizing motion picture technology.
On September 13, 1898, inventor Hannibal Goodwin was granted U.S. Patent No. 610,723 for a new type of flexible, transparent photographic film made from celluloid. This innovation provided a durable, lightweight medium for capturing images, replacing fragile glass plates. Goodwin’s celluloid film could be rolled and housed in a camera, laying the groundwork for modern cinematography. The patent spurred competition and legal disputes with companies like Eastman Kodak, who later dominated the film industry. Despite challenges, Goodwin’s work profoundly influenced the early days of motion pictures and still photography. His invention remains a milestone in visual media technology.
1898
Hannibal Goodwin
celluloid
photographic film
1906day.year
The Santos-Dumont 14-bis makes a short hop, the first flight of a fixed-wing aircraft in Europe.
Alberto Santos-Dumont pilots the 14-bis on a brief powered hop in Paris, marking Europe's first recorded fixed-wing flight.
On September 13, 1906, Brazilian inventor and aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont successfully flew his 14-bis aircraft in the grounds of the Château de Bagatelle in Paris. The brief hop covered about 60 meters at a height of just a few feet, but it marked the first recorded powered takeoff and flight of a fixed-wing machine in Europe without external assistance. Witnessed by members of the Aero Club of France, this demonstration captivated the public and advanced European aviation efforts. Santos-Dumont’s design featured a canard configuration and innovative control surfaces. His achievement challenged the Wright brothers’ claims in Europe and inspired a generation of aircraft builders. The 14-bis flight remains a celebrated milestone in the history of flight.
1906
Santos-Dumont 14-bis
1956day.year
The IBM 305 RAMAC is introduced, the first commercial computer to use disk storage.
On September 13, 1956, IBM unveiled the 305 RAMAC, pioneering the first commercial computer with moving-head disk storage.
The IBM 305 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) revolutionized data processing by introducing the first hard disk drive. Its system housed fifty 24-inch platters, offering a total capacity of about 5 megabytes. This breakthrough replaced slower magnetic tape reels and enabled direct, random access to data records. Though bulky and costly, the RAMAC set the stage for the modern storage industry. It influenced subsequent generations of computers and spurred innovations in miniaturization and performance. IBM’s invention laid the groundwork for the data-driven world we know today.
1956
IBM 305 RAMAC
disk storage