Tupelo, Mississippi is famous because it is Elvis Presley’s birthplace, but we can be glad that this date in history did not change all that.  On this date in 1936,  an F5 tornado hit Tupelo, Mississippi.  About 216 people were killed, but one-year-old Elvis managed to survive this tornado that practically decimated this town.  For more info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tornadoes-devastate-tupelo-and-gainesville http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Tupelo%E2%80%93Gainesville_tornado_outbreak

I had never heard of this individual before today, but his work was extensive and important.  On this date in 1863, Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky was born.  He was a great Russian scientist who contributed to several fields of scientific study.  In fact, he was one of the first to appreciate the need for specialized scientfic studies.  He is considered one […]

You may be familiar with Galileo Galilei, and on this date in 1616, he was presented with an injunction from the Spanish Inquisition.  Unfprtunately, the result of all this was that Galileo had to reverse his theory that the earth revolved around the sun.  No wonder the church is traditionally seen as backward in the field of science.  This was […]

I have a personal story tied to today’s feature.  On this date in 2003, the Columbia space shuttle disintegrated upon reëntry, killing all seven astronauts on board.  Let me tell you my personal story.  I had won a special evening out at an auction, and we had to use it before it expired.  My husband and I didn’t always enjoy […]

Today’s feature is extremely important to most of us in everyday life.  On this date in 1930, 3M began marketing Scotch tape.  It was Scotch Cellulose Tape, and it was extremely important in the Depression Era.  Water had been needed to seal cellophane, but now no water was needed.  Richard Drew was the inventor, and eventually his tape became known […]

Remember Dolly the Sheep?  As you’re probably aware, cloning is a controversial topic, and on this date in 1998, nineteen European nations voted to ban human cloning.  This ban was announced about the same time that genetic scientists suggested that it may be possible to replace human organs with cloned organs.  This could have opened up the door to growing […]

I  wasn’t aware of today’s feature.   On this date in 1954, the first successful kidney transplant occurred.  Richard Herrick had an incurable kidney disease, and his donor was his twin brother, Ronald Lee Herrick.  It was this fact (identical twin relationship) that ensured there would be no potential organ rejection.  Interestingly enough, Richard met his future wife, Clare, in the […]

Quite a day in science history is the subject of today’s feature.  On this date in 1982, the very first person received a permanent artificial heart.   Dr. Barney B. Clark was a Seattle dentist who suffered from congestive heart failure.  Doctors said he was too far gone to receive an actual heart transplant, so he was the logical and idea […]

Today’s feature is certainly quite important to the world of medical science. On this date in 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen “accidentally” discovered the X-ray.  He was doing some experiments with electricity–cathode rays to be precise.  He discovered that there was a new kind of light that could pass through solid matter.  And the rest if history. At last broken bones could […]

Today’s feature is fairly bittersweet.  On  this date in 1957, Laika became the first dog in space.  She was launched by the Soviets in Sputnik 2, and she was provided with enough food and water to last for ten days.  Her trip was to be a one-way trip.  Nothing was known about what happens when one reenters the atmosphere.  It […]