5 March in history.

1981

A small computer for the home. Sinclair Research launched the ZX81, a cheap little computer that plugged into a TV. More than a million and a half were sold, and many people learned to code on one.

Wikipedia: ZX81

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

More from 5 March

1. 

   1046

   A traveller sets out

   Persian poet and thinker Nasir Khusraw began a seven-year journey through the Middle East and later wrote about it in his travel book, the Safarnama.

   Wikipedia: Nasir KhusrawWikipedia: Safarnama

   Photo: Abbas Rassam Arjangi / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

2. 

   1850

   The Britannia Bridge opens

   A new railway bridge linked the island of Anglesey to mainland Wales across the Menai Strait, using huge iron tubes for the trains to run through.

   Wikipedia: Britannia Bridge

   Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1872

   Safer brakes for trains

   George Westinghouse patented the railway air brake, which let a driver stop every car of a train at once.

   Wikipedia: Railway air brakeWikipedia: George Westinghouse

   Photo: unknown (Life time: subject died before 1914) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

4. 

   1982

   Landing on Venus

   The Soviet probe Venera 14 landed on the scorching surface of Venus, sent back colour pictures and tested the soil.

   Wikipedia: Venera 14Wikipedia: Venus

   Photo: Post of Soviet Union / 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.