On this day

7 October in history.

5 moments from 1868 to 2008: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Point Barrow Alaska, Northernmost point of the United States. The object on the beach is a Bowhead whale jawbone

1988

Three trapped whales spark a rescue. Near Point Barrow, Alaska, an Iñupiat hunter found three gray whales trapped in pack ice. People from many countries came together to try to set them free.

Wikipedia: Point Barrow

Photo: USCG Press / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

More from 7 October

  1. Cornell University seal

    1868

    Cornell University opens its doors

    Cornell University held its opening day. Its first class of 412 students was the largest any American university had enrolled up to then.

    Wikipedia: Cornell University

    Photo: Cornell University. The original uploader was Connormah at English Wikipedia .. Later ver… / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. 1913

    Ford starts the first moving assembly line

    Ford Motor Company introduced the first moving assembly line for building cars.

    Wikipedia: Ford Motor CompanyWikipedia: Assembly line

  3. The Soviet space probe Luna 3.

    1959

    We see the far side of the Moon for the first time

    The Soviet probe Luna 3 sent back the first photographs ever taken of the far side of the Moon.

    Wikipedia: Luna 3

    Photo: Музей Космонавтики from Россия / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

  4. Ground track and probable explosion point in midair of the asteroid 2008 TC3 which entered earth's atmosphere and exploded over Sudan on 2008-10-06. Original map CIA Factbook. Graphic overlay George William Herbert 2008-10-07. GFDL and CC-BY-3.0 dual licensed. Ground track from…

    2008

    An asteroid impact is predicted for the first time

    The small asteroid 2008 TC3 burst in the sky over Sudan's Nubian Desert. It was the first time anyone had predicted an asteroid's impact before it entered the atmosphere.

    Wikipedia: 2008 TC3Wikipedia: Nubian DesertWikipedia: Asteroid impact prediction

    Photo: George William Herbert (graphic overlay) / US Government (original map) / 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.