1144day.year
Robert of Chester completes his translation from Arabic to Latin of the Liber de compositione alchemiae, marking the birth of Western alchemy.
Robert of Chester's 1144 Latin translation of the Arabic Liber de compositione alchemiae introduced Western Europe to alchemical knowledge for the first time.
On February 11, 1144, Robert of Chester completed his translation of the Arabic treatise Liber de compositione alchemiae into Latin. Commissioned by the Normans in Spain, this work carried the core doctrines and laboratory practices of Islamic alchemists into Western Christendom. The translation sparked European interest in transmutation, the philosopher's stone, and medicinal minerals. Over the following centuries, alchemy evolved beyond its mystical roots, influencing early chemistry and medicine. Robert of Chester's efforts thus mark a pivotal moment in the cross-cultural transmission of scientific knowledge.
1144
Robert of Chester
Arabic
Latin
Liber de compositione alchemiae
alchemy
1808day.year
Jesse Fell burns anthracite on an open grate as an experiment in heating homes with coal.
On February 11, 1808, Jesse Fell successfully burned anthracite coal on an open grate, pioneering its use for domestic heating in America.
Jesse Fell, a Pennsylvania ironmaster, conducted a groundbreaking experiment on February 11, 1808, by burning anthracite coal on an open grate in Wilkes-Barre. Prior to this demonstration, anthracite was known but considered too difficult to ignite without specialized furnaces. Fell's method showed that the hard, high-carbon coal could heat homes efficiently and cleanly. His success spurred the anthracite mining industry in Northeastern Pennsylvania and influenced heating practices across the young United States. This innovation contributed to broader developments in resource utilization during the Industrial Revolution.
1808
Jesse Fell
anthracite
1970day.year
Japan launches Ohsumi, becoming the fourth nation to put an object into orbit using its own booster.
In 1970, Japan launched its first satellite Ohsumi into orbit, becoming the fourth nation to achieve independent space launch capability.
Japan launched its first satellite, Ohsumi, into orbit on February 11, 1970, using its indigenous rocket.
The successful flight made Japan the fourth nation to place an object into orbit independently.
The launch vehicle was a four-stage L-4S-5 rocket developed by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.
Ohsumi carried scientific instruments to study cosmic rays and atmospheric density.
The achievement marked a milestone in Japan's space program and technological advancement.
It paved the way for future Japanese contributions to space science and exploration.
1970
Ohsumi
1997day.year
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
On February 11, 1997, Space Shuttle Discovery launched on mission STS-82 to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
On February 11, 1997, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-82 to perform the second servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope. The crew conducted five spacewalks over ten days to install new instruments including the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. They also replaced gyroscopes, thermal insulation blankets, and camera electronics, correcting previous optical aberrations. These upgrades significantly enhanced Hubble's resolution and sensitivity, enabling deeper views of distant galaxies and nebulae. The mission extended the satellite's operational life and solidified its role as one of humanity's most important astronomical observatories.
1997
Space Shuttle Discovery
mission
Hubble Space Telescope
1999day.year
Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit, ending a nearly 20-year period when it was closer to the Sun than the gas giant; Pluto is not expected to interact with Neptune's orbit again until 2231.
On February 11, 1999, Pluto crossed Neptune's orbit, ending a period of nearly 20 years that it remained closer to the Sun than the gas giant.
On February 11, 1999, the dwarf planet Pluto moved past Neptune's orbit, marking the end of a close solar approach that began in 1979. Due to its highly elliptical orbit and a stable 2:3 orbital resonance, Pluto spends part of its 248-year revolution inside Neptune's orbit without risk of collision. This rare celestial alignment recurs only once every 2,231 years. The event captured public imagination and highlighted the dynamic nature of planetary orbits in our solar system. Pluto's unusual path prompted discussions about the definition of planets, leading to its reclassification in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union.
1999
Pluto
2000day.year
Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-99 to conduct the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission.
On February 11, 2000, Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on STS-99 to perform the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and map Earth's surface in unprecedented detail.
On February 11, 2000, Endeavour embarked on STS-99, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), lifting off from Kennedy Space Center. The mission aimed to produce the first near-global high-resolution digital elevation model of Earth's landmass. Using dual radar antennas mounted on a 60-meter mast, the crew collected interferometric data over 11 days to measure surface heights accurate to within 10 meters. The data filled mapping gaps and supported fields ranging from geology and hydrology to climate modeling. After completing nearly 5.4 million square miles of mapping, Endeavour returned safely, leaving a legacy of topographic data pivotal for scientific and commercial applications.
2000
Space Shuttle Endeavour
STS-99
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
2001day.year
A Dutch programmer launched the Anna Kournikova virus infecting millions of emails via a trick photo of the tennis star.
On February 11, 2001, the Anna Kournikova email virus tricked users with a fake photo attachment, infecting millions of computers worldwide.
On February 11, 2001, a computer worm disguised as an image of tennis star Anna Kournikova began circulating via email. The virus used a Visual Basic script beneath an attachment named "AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs", exploiting user curiosity to execute malicious code. Once opened, it silently mailed itself to contacts in the victim’s address book and displayed a fake image. Millions of emails were infected within days, making it one of the most widespread viruses of its time. Although it caused no severe system damage, the outbreak highlighted vulnerabilities in email security and user habits, prompting increased awareness and antivirus improvements.
2001
Anna Kournikova virus
emails
tennis
2020day.year
COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization officially names the coronavirus outbreak as COVID-19, with the virus being designated SARS-CoV-2.
The WHO officially names the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 and designates its virus as SARS-CoV-2.
On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced the official name for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus as COVID-19.
Simultaneously, the virus itself was designated Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
The naming aimed to avoid geographic or animal association and to standardize global communication.
By this date, the outbreak that began in Wuhan had spread internationally, prompting declarations of public health emergencies.
The decision provided a unified terminology for research, reporting, and public health measures worldwide.
This milestone marked a key step in coordinating international response efforts and advancing vaccine development.
2020
COVID-19 pandemic
World Health Organization
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2