Fact 1: An impressive Launch
April 14, 2003, marked the unveiling of the Human Genome Project. This groundbreaking international scientific research project had as its principal goal, the mapping of all the genes of the human genome (approximately 30,000 genes). It began in 1990 and was declared complete in 2003, making an incredibly exciting impact on the field of medicine and biology.
Fact 2: A Historical Titanic Tragedy
This date carries tragic historical significance as the infamous ship Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912. The ship, considered "unsinkable," sank into the freezing water of the North Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 lives.
Fact 3: Black Day in South Korean History
April 14 stands as a black day in South Korean history. In 2014, a ferry named Sewol capsized and sank, causing the deaths of 304 out of 476 passengers. This terrible tragedy mostly affected high school children on a field trip.
Fact 4: Lincoln’s Unanticipated End
April 14 is the day when an iconic American figure, President Abraham Lincoln, was shot by John Wilkes Booth in 1865. He succumbed to his injuries the following day, marking a significant blow in American history.
Fact 5: First American Edition of The Hobbit Published
Tolkien fans would be interested to know that April 14, 1938, saw the first American edition of The Hobbit being published. The children's fantasy novel earned widespread acclaim and has since seen multiple sequels, prequels, and adaptations.
Fact 6: The Debut of America’s National League
The National League, the oldest existing professional sports league in the United States, played its inaugural game on April 14, 1876. The Boston Red Caps defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5.
Fact 7: A Day for Commodities
If you like silver, the numbers might interest you. In 1988, Silver reached its highest price on the London market, peaking at $9.79 per ounce on April 14.
Fact 8: Chocolatey Commemoration
For those with a sweet tooth, April 14 is Pecan Day and Reach as High as You Can Day, particularly why not reach for a scrumptious chocolate pecan pie? Remember, the pecan didn’t become the Texas state tree until 1919!
Fact 9: Foundation of the First U.S Aquarium
April 14, 1927, marked the establishment of the first U.S aquarium in Detroit. The Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest in the country and holds just over 1,000 assortments of fish.
Fact 10: Georg Frideric Handel’s Messiah premiere
Handel’s Messiah, one of the most famous pieces of music from the Baroque period, premiered in Dublin, Ireland, on April 14, 1742.
Fact 11: Start of U.S’ worst dust storm
April 14, 1935, saw the start of America's worst dust storm, known as "Black Sunday." The day marked a significant turning point in generating public awareness about environmental and agricultural issues in the U.S.
Fact 12: Tornado Outbreak Day
On April 14, 2011, over 160 tornadoes were reported across 14 U.S states. It's considered the second-largest tornado outbreak in U.S history.
Fact 13: Pioneer Plastic Surgeon's Birthday
Born on April 14, 1894, American doctor, Harold D. Gillies, now known as the father of plastic surgery, laid the foundation for many techniques used in modern reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Fact 14: Launch of Apollo 13
Apollo 13, the seventh crewed mission of NASA's Apollo space program, was launched on April 14, 1970. Although the mission had to be aborted due to an oxygen tank explosion, the safe return of the astronauts made it a "successful failure."
Fact 15: First Spacewalk on Mars
April 14 marks the date of the first spacewalk in human history. On this day in 1981, the Mars Rover, Sojourner, performed the first 'astroll' on Mars’ surface.
Fact 16: China Airlines Flight 140 Tragedy
In 1994, China Airlines Flight 140 crashed while landing at Nagoya Airport in Japan due to pilot error, resulting in 264 fatalities, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in history.
Fact 17: First Dictionary Published
On April 14, 1828, Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary. This edition was met with considerable resistance before eventually becoming respected.
Fact 18: First Video Recorded on Mount Everest's summit
On April 14, 1988, legendary mountaineer David Breashears recorded the first video from the summit of Mount Everest. He filmed the panoramic shots for his film Storm Over Everest.
Fact 19: A Day for Dolphins
April 14 is National Dolphin Day, observed primarily in the U.S. This day honors these special sea creatures and raises awareness about their preservation.
Fact 20: Theoretical Physicist Birthday
Famous for the Kaku's paradox, theoretical physicist Michio Kaku was born on April 14, 1947. Now globally renowned, he co-founded string field theory and has contributed significantly to the field of quantum mechanics.