• 1604 – Kepler's Supernova: German astronomer Johannes Kepler observes a supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus.

• 1888 – Thomas Edison files a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie).

• 1907 – Guglielmo Marconi's company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland.

• 1933 – Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to the United States.

• 1956 – The first commercial nuclear power station is officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in Sellafield,in Cumbria, England.

• 1956 – Donald Byrne and Bobby Fischer play a famous chess game called The Game of the Century. Fischer beat Byrne and wins a Brilliancy prize.

• 1979 – Mother Teresa is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.