1782day.year
The Montgolfier brothers first test fly an unmanned hot air balloon in France; it floats nearly 2.5 km (1.6 mi).
The Montgolfier brothers achieved the first unmanned hot air balloon flight in France, traveling nearly 2.5 kilometers.
In 1782, French inventors Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier launched an unmanned hot air balloon near Annonay.
Heated by a fire at the balloon's base, the linen-and-paper bag rose over the countryside.
The craft floated for nearly 2.5 kilometers, demonstrating the potential of aerial travel.
This pioneering experiment laid the groundwork for human flight and the science of aerostatics.
The brothers' public demonstrations enthralled spectators and sparked a global ballooning craze.
Their work ushered in a new era of exploration in science and technology.
1782
Montgolfier brothers
hot air balloon
1900day.year
Quantum mechanics: Max Planck presents a theoretical derivation of his black-body radiation law (quantum theory) at the Physic Society in Berlin.
Max Planck unveils the theoretical basis of his black-body radiation law, laying the groundwork for quantum theory.
At a meeting of the Physical Society in Berlin on December 14, 1900, German physicist Max Planck delivered a groundbreaking paper on black-body radiation.
He introduced the idea of quantized energy exchange between electromagnetic radiation and matter, proposing that energy was emitted in discrete units, or quanta.
This theoretical derivation resolved the ultraviolet catastrophe predicted by classical physics and matched experimental observations.
Planck's work marked the birth of quantum mechanics, fundamentally altering our understanding of atomic and subatomic phenomena.
His constant, later named Planck's constant, remains a central parameter in quantum theory and modern physics.
Planck's presentation set the stage for Einstein's photoelectric effect explanation and the broader quantum revolution.
1900
Quantum mechanics
Max Planck
black-body radiation law (quantum theory)
1903day.year
The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Orville and Wilbur Wright conduct their maiden flight attempt with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk.
On December 14, 1903, the Wright brothers made their first powered flight attempt at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in their aircraft known as the Wright Flyer.
They conducted a series of glider and engine tests on the sandy dunes to refine wing design, control mechanisms, and propulsion before attempting full flight.
Although this initial trial did not achieve sustained flight, it provided critical data on control surfaces and engine performance.
The brothers' systematic approach combined aerodynamic research with practical experimentation, ultimately leading to the first successful flight two days later on December 17.
Their pioneering work laid the foundation for modern aviation and forever changed the possibilities of human transport.
Their determination and ingenuity at Kitty Hawk continue to inspire aerospace engineers and enthusiasts worldwide.
1903
Wright brothers
Wright Flyer
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
1911day.year
Roald Amundsen's team, comprising himself, Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting, becomes the first to reach the South Pole.
Roald Amundsen and his team become the first explorers to reach the geographic South Pole.
On December 14, 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his crew reached the Earth's southernmost point, the South Pole, after a grueling expedition.
They had set out from their base camp at the Bay of Whales in Antarctica with well-planned routes and supplies optimized for polar travel.
Using sled dogs, skis, and innovative navigation techniques, the team completed the journey in just over three months.
Amundsen's precise logistical planning contrasted with rival Robert Falcon Scott's British expedition, which arrived later under dire circumstances.
Amundsen's success marked a triumph of human endurance and strategic preparation in one of the planet's most hostile environments.
Their achievement ushered in a new era of Antarctic exploration and scientific research.
1911
Roald Amundsen
Olav Bjaaland
Helmer Hanssen
Sverre Hassel
Oscar Wisting
South Pole
1940day.year
Plutonium (specifically Pu-238) is first isolated at Berkeley, California.
Scientists at Berkeley first isolate the radioactive element plutonium-238, opening a new chapter in nuclear chemistry.
In December 1940, a team at the University of California, Berkeley led by Glenn T. Seaborg achieved the first isolation of the isotope plutonium-238. This breakthrough came from bombarding uranium with deuterons and chemically separating the resulting isotopes. Plutonium-238’s discovery expanded the periodic table and paved the way for its use as a heat source in radioisotope thermoelectric generators. The development of plutonium isotopes later became central to nuclear energy and weapon programs during World War II. Seaborg’s work at Berkeley marked a milestone in synthetic element research and underscored the rapid advances in nuclear chemistry. Today, Pu-238 remains valuable for powering spacecraft and remote scientific instruments, demonstrating the lasting impact of this discovery.
1940
Plutonium
Pu-238
1948day.year
Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann are granted a patent for their cathode-ray tube amusement device, the earliest known interactive electronic game.
The first interactive electronic game patent is awarded for a cathode-ray tube amusement device, laying the groundwork for video games.
On December 14, 1948, inventors Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann received U.S. Patent 2,450,388 for their cathode-ray tube amusement device. This invention used analog circuits to simulate missile trajectories on a CRT screen, allowing players to interact via knobs and buttons. Inspired by radar displays from World War II, it represented the earliest known example of an interactive electronic game. Although the technology remained experimental, the patent foreshadowed the digital video game revolution of later decades. Goldsmith and Mann's device highlighted the potential for electronic entertainment beyond military applications. Modern gaming owes its origins to this pioneering effort, which demonstrated that electronic screens could become a medium for play and creativity.
1948
Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr.
cathode-ray tube amusement device
electronic game
1958day.year
The 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition becomes the first to reach the southern pole of inaccessibility.
On December 14, 1958, the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition reached the southern pole of inaccessibility, achieving the first human presence at Antarctica's most remote interior point.
The 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition, carried out between 1957 and 1959, aimed to explore Antarctica's interior.
On December 14, 1958, the expedition team became the first to reach the southern pole of inaccessibility—the point furthest from any ocean.
The explorers established a temporary station there and installed scientific instruments to record meteorological, geophysical, and glaciological data.
Their achievement demonstrated the feasibility of deep continental travel and provided valuable insights into the Antarctic plateau's conditions.
This feat underscored the Soviet Union's commitment to polar science during the International Geophysical Year.
The expedition's success remains a landmark in the history of Antarctic exploration.
1958
3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition
southern pole of inaccessibility
1962day.year
NASA's Mariner 2 becomes the first spacecraft to fly by Venus.
NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft made the first successful flyby of Venus on December 14, 1962, opening a new era of interplanetary exploration.
Launched on August 27, 1962, Mariner 2 became the first spacecraft to perform a close encounter with another planet on December 14, 1962, passing within 34,773 kilometers of Venus.
The probe returned the first direct measurements of another planet's atmosphere, confirming Venus's high surface temperatures and dense, carbon dioxide–rich composition.
Mariner 2 also studied the solar wind, magnetic fields, and interplanetary dust en route.
Its success validated technologies for guidance, thermal control, and deep-space communication, paving the way for subsequent planetary missions.
The mission demonstrated NASA's growing capabilities in robotic exploration and set the stage for future studies of the inner solar system.
Mariner 2 remains a landmark in the history of space exploration.
1962
NASA
Mariner 2
spacecraft
Venus
1972day.year
Apollo program: Eugene Cernan is the most recent person to walk on the Moon, after he and Harrison Schmitt complete the third and final extravehicular activity (EVA) of the Apollo 17 mission.
On December 14, 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts completed the final moonwalk of the Apollo program, making Eugene Cernan the last person to date to walk on the Moon.
Apollo 17 was NASA's final crewed mission to the lunar surface, launched on December 7, 1972, with Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt.
During the third and final extravehicular activity on December 14, Cernan and Schmitt conducted geological exploration in the Taurus–Littrow valley.
They collected 110 kilograms of lunar samples, deployed scientific experiments, and captured photographic surveys of the terrain.
Before re-entering the lunar module, Cernan left his footprints as a final human mark on the Moon, famously saying, 'We shall return someday, God willing.'
The EVA brought back critical data on lunar origins and geologic history.
No astronaut has walked on the Moon since Apollo 17, making Cernan's steps the most recent in history.
1972
Apollo program
Eugene Cernan
Harrison Schmitt
extravehicular activity
Apollo 17