February 13

Events - Other

1961day.year

An allegedly 500,000-year-old rock is discovered near Olancha, California, US, that appears to anachronistically encase a spark plug.

In 1961, prospectors near Olancha, California, claimed to find a half-million-year-old rock enclosing a modern spark plug, fueling pseudoscientific debate.
During a field search on February 13, 1961, workers in California's Owens Valley discovered a spark plug seemingly encased in a 500,000-year-old stone. Dubbed the Olancha Artifact, it challenged conventional timelines and attracted interest from creationists and fringe researchers. Critics dismissed it as a hoax, arguing the plug became embedded through natural concretion processes. The incident highlights how anomalous finds can spur public fascination and debate over archaeology and geology. To this day, the authenticity of the discovery remains disputed, symbolizing clashes between mainstream science and alternative theories.
1961 500,000-year-old rock Olancha, California spark plug
1978day.year

Hilton bombing: A bomb explodes in a refuse truck outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, Australia, killing two refuse collectors and a policeman.

In 1978, a bomb hidden in a garbage truck detonated outside Sydney's Hilton Hotel, killing three individuals and injuring others.
On February 13, 1978, a bomb concealed in a refuse truck exploded outside the Hilton Hotel in Sydney's central business district. The blast killed two garbage collectors and an off-duty police officer, and injured 11 bystanders. The attack sent shockwaves through Australia and triggered one of the nation's largest manhunts. Investigators suspected a politically motivated group, but no convictions were made. The Sydney Hilton bombing remains one of Australia's most notorious unsolved terror incidents.
1978 Hilton bombing Hilton Hotel