On this day

6 October in history.

5 moments from 1600 to 2008: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Poster for the movie The Jazz Singer (1927), featuring stars Eugenie Besserer and Al Jolson . Warner Bros. (original rights holder)

1927

The Jazz Singer brings sound to the screen. The Jazz Singer was released. It was one of the first full-length films with a recorded music score playing in sync with the pictures.

Wikipedia: The Jazz Singer

Photo: Unknown author Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 6 October

  1. Euridice (Peri)

    1600

    The oldest surviving opera is performed

    Euridice, the earliest opera whose music still survives today, was performed for the first time, opening the Baroque era of music.

    Wikipedia: Euridice (Peri)Wikipedia: Baroque

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. World-renowned Swiss astronomer Michel Mayor of the Geneva Observatory, in front of ESO’s 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla Observatory in Chile. The telescope hosts HARPS, the world’s leading exoplanet hunter. They were awarded the 2011 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awar…

    1995

    The first exoplanet around a Sun-like star is found

    Astronomers Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz announced a planet circling the star 51 Pegasi. It was the first known planet orbiting an ordinary, Sun-like star.

    Wikipedia: Michel MayorWikipedia: Didier QuelozWikipedia: 51 Pegasi b

    Photo: L. Weinstein/Ciel et Espace Photos / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

  3. Adventurer Jason Lewis cycling near Ostend, Belgium

    2007

    Jason Lewis travels around the world on human power

    Jason Lewis completed the first journey around the Earth powered only by people, with no engines or sails.

    Wikipedia: Jason Lewis (adventurer)

    Photo: Tammie6123 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  4. Artist depiction of the MESSENGER spacecraft in orbit around Mercury.

    2008

    MESSENGER spots a giant crater on Mercury

    The MESSENGER probe found Rembrandt, the second-largest impact crater on the planet Mercury.

    Wikipedia: MESSENGERWikipedia: Rembrandt (crater)Wikipedia: Impact crater

    Photo: NASA / JHU/APL / 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.