November 11

On November 11, 1572, Tycho Brahe observed a new star in the constellation Cassiopeia. His precise measurements showed that the object had no detectable parallax. This proved it was farther than the Moon, contradicting the Aristotelian belief in unchangeable skies. Brahe's detailed observations were published in his work 'De nova stella'. The supernova, later catalogued as SN 1572, became one of the most studied stellar events. His findings laid groundwork for the development of modern astronomy. The event marked a pivotal challenge to medieval cosmology.

In a 1675 lecture, German polymath Gottfried Leibniz illustrated how to calculate areas under curves. He introduced the integral sign ∫ to represent summation of infinitesimal quantities. Leibniz's method complemented his earlier development of differential calculus. His demonstration provided a practical approach for solving problems in geometry and physics. Publication of his work sparked debates over calculus priority with Isaac Newton. The notation and methodology devised by Leibniz became standard in mathematical practice. His contributions laid the groundwork for centuries of advances in analysis.

On November 11, 1930, Albert Einstein and physicist Leó Szilárd were granted U.S. Patent No. US1781541 for the Einstein refrigerator. Their invention operated without moving parts, using an absorption cycle with ammonia, butane, and water. It was designed to reduce the risk of toxic gas leaks common in early refrigerators. Although it never reached mass production, the design influenced future developments in eco-friendly cooling. The patent stands as a testament to Einstein’s inventive spirit beyond his groundbreaking work in physics.

On the night of November 11–12, 1940, the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy struck the Italian fleet anchored at Taranto. Twenty-one Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers launched from HMS Illustrious in the first mass all-aircraft naval assault. They inflicted severe damage on two battleships and a cruiser, redefining naval tactics. The success demonstrated the power of carrier aviation and influenced the Japanese planning for Pearl Harbor. This operation highlighted the shift from battleship-centric warfare to air power dominance at sea.

On November 11, 1966, NASA launched Gemini 12 from Cape Kennedy with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin aboard. The mission’s objectives included perfecting rendezvous and docking procedures with an Agena target vehicle, conducting three spacewalks, and demonstrating long-duration extravehicular activity (EVA). Aldrin performed tethered and free-floating EVAs, testing handholds and foot restraints that would be crucial for future Apollo missions. Gemini 12 successfully docked with its Agena companion, setting records for EVA duration and maneuverability in space. The mission validated techniques for orbital navigation and human performance, paving the way for lunar missions. Gemini 12’s achievements marked the culmination of NASA’s Gemini series and bridged the gap to the Apollo program.

On November 11, 1982, Space Shuttle Columbia embarked on STS-5, the first fully operational flight of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Commanded by Vance D. Brand and piloted by Robert F. Overmyer, the crew successfully deployed two commercial communications satellites, marking a transition from test flights to routine operations. The mission demonstrated the shuttle’s capacity to carry payloads, perform satellite deployments, and conduct orbital maneuvers. STS-5 also tested new spacewalk equipment and assessed vehicle performance under operational conditions. This landmark flight validated key shuttle capabilities and paved the way for more complex missions, including scientific research and International Space Station construction.

In November 2002, Grigori Perelman posted the first of three preprints claiming a complete proof of the Poincaré conjecture, a century-old problem in topology. His approach, based on Ricci flow techniques, was rigorously verified by experts over the following months, marking the only successful resolution among the seven Millennium Prize Problems. Despite the Clay Mathematics Institute’s offer of US$1 million and the International Mathematical Union’s Fields Medal, Perelman declined both honors, citing philosophical objections to mathematical recognition. His actions sparked debate within the academic community about the nature of awards and the motivations driving scientific discovery. Perelman’s proof not only settled a central question in geometric topology but also advanced the field of geometric analysis and influenced subsequent research on three-dimensional manifolds.