1853day.year
A dinner party is held inside a life-size model of an iguanodon created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in south London, England.
Victorian paleontologists and artists host a dinner inside a full-scale iguanodon sculpture, celebrating early scientific illustration.
On December 31, 1853, guests gathered for an extraordinary banquet held within the hollowed interior of a life-sized iguanodon model at Crystal Palace Park in south London. Sculptor Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, guided by anatomist Sir Richard Owen, crafted the dinosaur replica to bring prehistoric science to the public eye. The intimate dinner featured period décor and displays of paleontological sketches and fossils. This event highlighted the fusion of art, science, and spectacle that characterized Victorian exhibitions. It captivated London society and sparked widespread interest in dinosaurs and natural history. The iguanodon model became a landmark attraction, influencing museum displays and shaping the public’s imagination of ancient life.
1853
iguanodon
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins
Richard Owen
south London
1878day.year
Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.
Karl Benz files a patent for his first reliable two-stroke gas engine in Mannheim, laying groundwork for modern automotive technology.
On December 31, 1878, German engineer Karl Benz submitted a patent application in Mannheim for his pioneering two-stroke gasoline engine. This design offered improved reliability and efficiency over existing experimental models. Benz’s engine became a key innovation in the development of internal combustion technology. The patent, granted in 1879, recognized his breakthrough in applying piston compression and fuel ignition. Benz’s work in engine design directly influenced his later creation of the first true automobile in 1885. The filing represented a major step toward practical personal transport. By perfecting the two-stroke cycle, Benz set the stage for the automotive revolution that would transform global mobility.
1878
Karl Benz
Mannheim
Germany
patent
two-stroke gas engine
1879day.year
Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Thomas Edison publicly demonstrates his new incandescent lighting system at Menlo Park, introducing a practical electric light to the world.
On December 31, 1879, inventor Thomas Edison illuminated Menlo Park, New Jersey, with his newly perfected incandescent lamps. Hundreds of visitors witnessed the first public display of a viable electric lighting system. Edison’s bulbs used a carbon filament and vacuum-sealed glass to produce steady, long-lasting light. The demonstration proved that safe and efficient electric illumination could replace gas and oil lamps. It marked a turning point in the Second Industrial Revolution by showcasing consumer-ready electrical technology. The success of the Menlo Park exhibit spurred rapid adoption of electric lighting in homes and businesses. Edison’s achievement laid the foundation for modern electrical power distribution.
1879
Thomas Edison
incandescent lighting
Menlo Park, New Jersey
1968day.year
The first flight of the Tupolev Tu-144, the first civilian supersonic transport in the world.
The Tupolev Tu-144 makes its maiden flight as the world’s first civilian supersonic transport.
The Tupolev Tu-144 embarked on its maiden flight on December 31, 1968, becoming the world’s first civilian supersonic transport. Developed by the Soviet aerospace design bureau, the Tu-144 aimed to rival the Concorde. The aircraft reached speeds exceeding Mach 1 in initial tests. Its introduction symbolized Soviet technological ambition during the Space Race era. Although it faced technical challenges and limited operational use, the Tu-144 demonstrated the possibilities of supersonic passenger travel. It remains a landmark in aviation history for breaking the commercial speed barrier.
1968
Tupolev Tu-144
2009day.year
Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occur.
A rare blue moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse on New Year’s Eve, creating a spectacular celestial display.
On December 31, 2009, stargazers witnessed the rare coincidence of a blue moon—a second full moon in a calendar month—alongside a total lunar eclipse. This astronomical convergence had not occurred in almost two decades, captivating skywatchers worldwide. During the eclipse, the moon took on a coppery hue, earning it the nickname 'blood moon'. Observatories and amateur astronomers alike organized viewing events late into New Year's Eve festivities. The dual event provided a fitting celestial finale to the first decade of the 21st century.
2009
blue moon
lunar eclipse
2011day.year
NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon.
NASA’s first GRAIL satellite, Ebb, enters lunar orbit to map the Moon’s gravity field in unprecedented detail.
On December 31, 2011, NASA successfully inserted the first of its twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) satellites into lunar orbit. The spacecraft, named Ebb, joined its counterpart, Flow, launched days earlier, to map the Moon's gravitational field in unprecedented detail. Data from GRAIL aimed to reveal the lunar crust's thickness, locate subsurface anomalies, and shed light on the Moon's internal structure. The mission represented a major milestone in lunar exploration and offered insights into planetary formation processes. GRAIL's precision measurements have since informed both scientific research and future mission planning.
2011
NASA
Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory
satellites
Moon
2019day.year
The World Health Organization is informed of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause, detected in Wuhan. This later turned out to be COVID-19, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO is alerted to mysterious pneumonia cases in Wuhan, marking the emergence of what becomes the COVID-19 pandemic.
On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization was alerted to several cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan, China. These early reports would later be traced to a novel coronavirus, now known as SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial investigations focused on a local seafood market, and patient samples were rapidly analyzed to identify the new virus. By January 2020, global health authorities were notified of human-to-human transmission, setting off worldwide efforts to contain the outbreak. The event marked the beginning of one of the most significant public health crises of the 21st century.
2019
World Health Organization
Wuhan
COVID-19
COVID-19 pandemic
2020day.year
The World Health Organization issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine.
On December 31, 2020, the World Health Organization issued its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for accelerated and equitable global distribution.
On December 31, 2020, the World Health Organization granted its first Emergency Use Listing for a COVID-19 vaccine, recognizing its safety, efficacy, and manufacturing quality.
The accelerated review process was designed to facilitate rapid access to vaccines during the urgent global health crisis.
By validating the vaccine, WHO provided guidance to national regulators and supported the COVAX facility in distributing doses to low- and middle-income countries.
The decision helped streamline regulatory approvals, reduced barriers to international supply chains, and increased public confidence in vaccination efforts.
It marked a turning point in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and established a framework for emergency use validation of future health interventions.
Subsequent vaccines and health products followed this pathway, bolstering preparedness for emerging global health threats.
2020
COVID-19 vaccine