Arthur Schawlow & Charles Townes was granted the first patent for a laser.
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The Spanish National Assembly officially abolished slavery in Puerto Rico.
The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line became the world's first scheduled flight.
The Beatles released their very first album, 'Please Please Me.'
The super-bright comet 'Hale-Bopp' reached its closest point to Earth at a distance of 1.215 AU, making it visible to the naked eye.
New York became the first US court to allow blood test results to be used as evidence.
