On this day

5 August in history.

5 moments from 1888 to 2011: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

This picture shows Bertha Benz around 1870

1888

Bertha Benz's road trip. Without telling her husband Karl, Bertha Benz drove his car about 106 kilometres with her two sons, the first long car journey, and proved the car worked.

Wikipedia: Bertha Benz

Photo: Bühler, Mannheim / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 5 August

  1. A modern British LED Traffic Light (Siemens Helios Mk1 LED) in Portsmouth

    1914

    The first electric traffic light

    An electric traffic signal was installed at a crossroads in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Wikipedia: Traffic light

    Photo: Unisouth / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

  2. Harry Houdini, three-quarter length portrait, facing front

    1926

    Houdini's 91 minutes

    Escape artist Harry Houdini stayed in a sealed coffin underwater for 91 minutes, by staying calm and breathing slowly.

    Wikipedia: Harry Houdini

    Photo: Campbell-Gray, Ltd. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Logo of Magic: The Gathering

    1993

    Magic: The Gathering

    Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first trading card game.

    Wikipedia: Magic: The Gathering

    Photo: Wizards of the Coast / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. A transparent image of the Juno spacecraft

    2011

    Juno sets off for Jupiter

    NASA launched the Juno probe, which reached Jupiter five years later.

    Wikipedia: Juno (spacecraft)

    Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.