February 12

Medieval medical practice largely avoided dissection due to religious and cultural taboos. At the Heiligen–Geist Spital in Vienna in 1404, Galeazzo di Santa Sofia carried out a groundbreaking anatomical demonstration on a human cadaver. This event marked the first documented post-mortem autopsy performed explicitly for teaching. His detailed observations challenged prevailing Galenic theories and encouraged a more empirical approach to anatomy. The demonstration was open to students and physicians, laying the groundwork for modern medical education. Although initial resistance remained, this pioneering step helped pave the way for Renaissance anatomists like Vesalius. The autopsy signified a crucial shift toward observation-based science in Europe.

Venera 1 was part of the Soviet Venera program tasked with exploring Venus. The probe carried scientific instruments to measure interplanetary magnetic fields and cosmic rays. After launch aboard a Molniya rocket, it successfully departed Earth's orbit and headed towards Venus. Unfortunately, communications were lost 3 days before its scheduled flyby, making it the first human-made object to pass near another planet without returning data. Despite this, Venera 1 provided valuable experience in deep-space navigation and spacecraft design. It laid the groundwork for subsequent Soyuz and Venera missions that would eventually transmit data from Venus.

NASA's NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft achieved the first soft landing on an asteroid when it descended onto the saddle region of 433 Eros. Launched in 1996, NEAR spent months mapping Eros's orbit, composition, and surface features before the descent. The landing provided detailed close-up measurements and images of the asteroid's structure and geology. Engineers chose a low-gravity “saddle” to ensure a gentle touchdown on the rocky surface. NEAR continued to transmit data until it was deliberately shut down two days later, revolutionizing our knowledge of near-Earth objects.