Paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey discovered a 1.4 million-year-old Homo erectus in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.
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The world's first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction happened in Chicago Pile-1 at the University of Chicago. It was overseen by Enrico Fermi.
Sweden introduced a groundbreaking Freedom of Press Act, becoming the first nation to introduce freedom of speech.
Charles Dickens gave his first public reading.
The Battle of Tirad Pass was fought.
NASA's Endeavour Space Shuttle was launched through Mission STS-61.
