1683day.year
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek writes a letter to the Royal Society describing "animalcules", later known as protozoa.
In 1683, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek reports observing microscopic 'animalcules' to the Royal Society, pioneering the study of microorganisms.
On September 17, 1683, Dutch scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek sent a letter to the Royal Society in London, detailing his observations of tiny living organisms under his handcrafted microscopes. He described their movements and forms, coining the term 'animalcules.' His meticulous work provided the first glimpse of the microbial world and laid foundations for microbiology. Leeuwenhoek's discoveries challenged prevailing scientific beliefs about spontaneous generation and the nature of life. His correspondence spurred interest in microscopy across Europe and advanced the scientific revolution.
1683
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
animalcules
protozoa
1908day.year
The Wright Flyer flown by Orville Wright, with Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge as passenger, crashes, killing Selfridge, who becomes the first airplane fatality.
In 1908, the Wright Flyer crashed during a demonstration flight, resulting in the first recorded airplane fatality.
On September 17, 1908, during a demonstration flight at Fort Myer, Virginia, Orville Wright piloted the Wright Flyer with U.S. Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge as a passenger. After several successful circuits, a mechanical failure broke the Flyer's propeller, causing the aircraft to crash from about 75 feet. Lieutenant Selfridge suffered a fatal head injury, becoming the first person to die in an airplane crash. Orville Wright sustained serious injuries but later recovered. The tragedy highlighted the perils of early aviation and spurred improvements in aircraft design and safety protocols. It also underscored the U.S. Army's keen interest in powered flight, accelerating military aviation development. The accident remains a landmark in both aeronautical history and the ongoing quest to make flight safer.
1908
Thomas Selfridge
1976day.year
The Space Shuttle Enterprise is unveiled by NASA.
NASA unveiled the Space Shuttle Enterprise, its first prototype orbiter, marking a milestone in reusable spacecraft design.
The Space Shuttle Enterprise was revealed on September 17, 1976, as the inaugural orbiter built under NASA’s Space Transportation System program. Named in homage to the starship from Star Trek, Enterprise served as a flight-test vehicle rather than a spaceworthy craft. It underwent a series of atmospheric tests, including captive carry flights aboard a modified Boeing 747 and free-flight glide landings. These trials were critical for validating the shuttle’s aerodynamics, thermal protection, and landing capabilities. The successful tests paved the way for operational orbiters such as Columbia and Discovery. Enterprise remains on public display as a symbol of the shuttle era’s pioneering spirit.
1976
Space Shuttle Enterprise
1991day.year
The first version of the Linux kernel (0.01) is released to the Internet.
Linus Torvalds released Linux kernel version 0.01 to the Internet, igniting the open-source movement.
On September 17, 1991, Finnish student Linus Torvalds published the first version (0.01) of the Linux kernel to the comp.os.minix newsgroup. The release provided a basic Unix-like operating system core for Intel 386 computers. Torvalds invited developers worldwide to contribute improvements, establishing a collaborative open-source development model. Over the following years, Linux rapidly expanded in features and hardware support thanks to global contributions. The project’s success demonstrated the power of community-driven software creation and influenced countless open-source initiatives. Today, Linux underpins servers, smartphones, embedded systems, and supercomputers, marking a lasting legacy.
Linux