1820day.year
Edward Bransfield sights the Trinity Peninsula and claims the discovery of Antarctica.
In 1820, explorer Edward Bransfield sighted Trinity Peninsula, becoming one of the first to claim discovery of Antarctica.
Serving as an officer in the Royal Navy, Bransfield charted the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula during a surveying mission. His sighting of land at Trinity Peninsula provided early confirmation of the continent’s existence. He documented coastal features and inspired subsequent expeditions by sealers and scientists. Although his achievements were overshadowed by other explorers, Bransfield’s reports enriched naval charts. His voyage contributed to the era of Antarctic exploration, fueling curiosity about Earth’s southernmost frontier.
1820
Edward Bransfield
Trinity Peninsula
Antarctica
1862day.year
American Civil War: The first American ironclad warship, the USS Monitor is launched.
In 1862, the USS Monitor, the first American ironclad warship, was launched, introducing revolutionary naval design during the Civil War.
On January 30, 1862, Union engineers launched the USS Monitor at the Continental Iron Works in Brooklyn, New York.
Designed by Swedish-American engineer John Ericsson, the ironclad featured a low-profile hull and a revolving gun turret.
This innovative design offered unprecedented protection and firepower compared to traditional wooden warships.
The Monitor would soon engage the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads, demonstrating its tactical advantages.
Its launch marked a turning point in naval warfare, signaling the end of wooden ships and the dawn of armored navies.
Although the Monitor sank later that year in a storm, its legacy endures in modern warship design.
1862
American Civil War
ironclad warship
USS Monitor
1911day.year
The destroyer USS Terry makes the first airplane rescue at sea saving the life of Douglas McCurdy 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Havana, Cuba.
In 1911, the destroyer USS Terry performed the first-ever airplane rescue at sea, saving aviator Douglas McCurdy near Havana.
On January 30, 1911, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Terry executed the first recorded sea rescue of a downed airplane pilot off the coast of Havana, Cuba.
Aviator Douglas McCurdy, participating in early naval aviation trials, suffered an engine failure and ditched into the water.
The USS Terry swiftly maneuvered alongside the wrecked aircraft and pulled McCurdy aboard, marking a landmark in aviation history.
This operation highlighted the strategic importance of naval support for burgeoning air services and paved the way for aircraft carrier development.
The successful rescue bolstered confidence in the integration of naval and aerial technology.
Douglas McCurdy's survival underscored the potential of air-sea coordination in military operations.
1911
USS Terry
airplane
Douglas McCurdy
Havana, Cuba
1982day.year
Richard Skrenta writes the first PC virus code, which is 400 lines long and disguised as an Apple boot program called "Elk Cloner".
Elk Cloner, the first PC virus, is created by Richard Skrenta as a boot-sector prank on Apple II computers.
In 1982, programmer Richard Skrenta wrote Elk Cloner, the first known microcomputer virus infecting Apple II systems via floppy disks. The 400-line virus attached itself to the boot sector and displayed a humorous poem on the fiftieth boot after infection. Although harmless, Elk Cloner demonstrated for the first time how software could self-replicate and spread between personal computers. It paved the way for future computer security research and highlighted vulnerabilities in early operating systems. This landmark event marks the beginning of the modern antivirus and cybersecurity era.
1982
Richard Skrenta
virus
Apple
Elk Cloner
1995day.year
Hydroxycarbamide becomes the first approved preventive treatment for sickle cell disease.
Hydroxycarbamide is approved as the first preventive treatment for sickle cell disease, reducing painful crises.
On January 30, 1995, hydroxycarbamide became the first drug approved to prevent complications of sickle cell disease. Clinical trials showed it could increase fetal hemoglobin levels and reduce the frequency of painful vaso-occlusive crises in patients. The approval represented a major breakthrough in managing a debilitating genetic disorder with no previous preventive therapies. Hydroxycarbamide’s use improved patients’ quality of life, decreased hospitalizations, and extended life expectancy. It remains a cornerstone of sickle cell disease management and spurred ongoing research into new treatments.
1995
Hydroxycarbamide
sickle cell disease
2007day.year
Microsoft Corporation releases Windows Vista, a major release of the operating system Microsoft Windows and the NT based kernel.
Microsoft releases Windows Vista, introducing a new interface and security features to its Windows lineup.
On January 30, 2007, Microsoft formally launched Windows Vista, a major revision of its Windows operating system built on the NT kernel. Vista introduced the Aero graphical user interface, enhanced security features like User Account Control, and revamped search and multimedia capabilities. The development cycle was lengthy, and early reviews praised its visual overhaul but criticized performance and hardware requirements. Despite mixed reception, Vista laid the groundwork for future Windows releases and influenced user expectations for system security and design. The release underscored Microsoft's shift toward a more robust and feature-rich operating system.
2007
Microsoft Corporation
Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows
2013day.year
Naro-1 becomes the first carrier rocket launched by South Korea.
South Korea launches Naro-1, achieving its first domestic carrier rocket launch capability.
On January 30, 2013, South Korea successfully launched the Naro-1 rocket, marking its entry into the select group of nations capable of deploying orbital launch vehicles. Developed in partnership with Russia, Naro-1 lifted off from the Naro Space Center, carrying a dummy payload. The launch validated South Korea’s growing expertise in rocketry and satellite deployment, despite challenges in its early space program. It paved the way for subsequent indigenous launch vehicle development and bolstered the country's ambitions in space exploration. The milestone demonstrated South Korea's commitment to advancing its science and technology sectors on the global stage.
2013
Naro-1
carrier rocket
2020day.year
The World Health Organization declares the COVID-19 pandemic to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, mobilizing a coordinated global response to the emerging pandemic.
In late January 2020, a novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, began rapidly spreading internationally.
On January 30, the World Health Organization convened an emergency committee to assess the threat.
It declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations.
This designation marked the first PHEIC declaration of the 21st century and underscored the virus's extraordinary risk to global health.
The announcement aimed to coordinate international efforts, travel measures, and research funding.
It set off a cascade of policy responses, accelerated vaccine development, and emphasized the need for global solidarity in containing the pandemic.
2020
World Health Organization
COVID-19 pandemic
Public Health Emergency of International Concern