On this day

23 November in history.

5 moments from 1924 to 2015: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

1963

Doctor Who begins. The BBC broadcast the first episode of Doctor Who, with William Hartnell as the Doctor. It has become the longest-running science fiction show in the world.

Wikipedia: An Unearthly Child

More from 23 November

  1. Studio portrait of Edwin Hubble.

    1924

    Hubble shows Andromeda is another galaxy

    The New York Times reported Edwin Hubble's finding that the Andromeda Nebula is not part of the Milky Way at all, but a separate galaxy.

    Wikipedia: The New York TimesWikipedia: Edwin HubbleWikipedia: Andromeda Galaxy

    Photo: Johan Hagemeyer / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. Free diver Jacques Mayol handing a trophy to a friend.

    1976

    Jacques Mayol dives 100 metres on one breath

    Holding his breath, Jacques Mayol dived to 100 metres (330 feet), the first person to free-dive that deep.

    Wikipedia: Jacques MayolWikipedia: Freediving

    Photo: Razeurmamba / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  3. 1992

    The first smartphone is unveiled

    IBM showed off the Simon, the first smartphone, at the COMDEX show in Las Vegas.

    Wikipedia: IBM SimonWikipedia: COMDEXWikipedia: Las Vegas

  4. A New Shepard rocket booster on display.

    2015

    A rocket flies to space and lands again

    Blue Origin's New Shepard became the first rocket to fly to space and then come back down to land upright under control.

    Wikipedia: Blue OriginWikipedia: New Shepard

    Photo: LunchboxLarry / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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