On this day

23 December in history.

5 moments from 1815 to 1986: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

1947

The transistor is born. The transistor was demonstrated for the first time, at Bell Laboratories. It became the building block of modern electronics.

Photo: Ulfbastel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

1815
Jane Austen's Emma is published
Jane Austen's novel Emma was first published, the last of her novels to come out during her lifetime.
Wikipedia: Emma (novel)Wikipedia: Jane Austen
Photo: Jane Austen / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
1919
Women can join the professions
A new UK law, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, opened the way for women to work as lawyers, civil servants and in other professions.
Wikipedia: Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919
Photo: Sodacan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
1954
The first successful kidney transplant
Surgeons J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray performed the first successful kidney transplant.
Wikipedia: Kidney transplantation Wikipedia: Joseph E. Murray
Photo: Wiremu Stadtwald Demchick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
1986
Around the world without stopping
Pilots Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager landed the Voyager aircraft in California, the first plane to fly around the world without stopping or refuelling.
Wikipedia: Rutan Voyager Wikipedia: Jeana Yeager
Photo: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center / NASA/Thomas Harrop / 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.