The Free Software Foundation celebrated its 40th birthday last Saturday. First started in 1985, the FSF has helped shape the digital world we live in today. Its ideas about free software inspired the open‑source movement; now open‑source programs run on countless computers, phones, and devices around the globe.
Posts tagged as “history”
History-making tennis star Althea Gibson is being celebrated at the US Open this year. Monday would have been her 98th birthday. And 75 years ago today, Gibson became the first Black player to take part in the US National Championships. She led the way, making life easier for many future athletes of color.
Scientists from Japan and Taiwan may have solved an old mystery: how did ancient people with simple tools and little scientific knowledge make long, dangerous ocean trips to new places? To test their ideas, the researchers made a trip of their own in a canoe they built from a tree using stone tools.
Librarians at Harvard Law School have learned that they own an original version of one of the world's most important documents – the Magna Carta. Until recently, Harvard thought that the document, which it bought for just $27.50, was a copy. Instead, It's a valuable historical document worth millions of dollars.
Last Thursday, the United Kingdom signed an agreement which will return control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. In exchange, the UK will be able to continue using the largest island as a military base for the next 99 years.
Scientists working at the Cambridge University Library have discovered a lost story from the middle ages about King Arthur and Merlin. The story was hiding in plain sight - it had been used as a book cover. Now scientists have carefully "unfolded" the book cover digitally, revealing the hidden story.
During World War II, "Rosie the Riveter" was a symbol used to encourage women across the United States to go to work. With millions of men fighting overseas, workers were needed to keep the country going. In late March, the National WWII Museum honored 18 real-life "Rosies" for their service.
On Monday, the aerospace company Blue Origin launched its spacecraft RSS Kármán Line on a ten minute trip into space. The spaceship carried the first all-female crew to go into space since Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo mission in 1963.
The United States will turn 250 years old on July 4, 2026. As part of the celebrations, a group called America250 is holding a special contest for students in grades 3-12. The winners will get to go on a "field trip" to one of several historical sites across the US.
Last May, Arizona got a new museum that focuses on something that many people find disgusting: poop. Not just any poop, but really old poop. So old, in fact, that it has turned into a fossil. The Poozeum is a collection of thousands of examples of "coprolites" - fossils made of poop.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died on December 29, at the age of 100. Mr. Carter served one term as president, but is probably best known for the work he did after leaving office. He will be honored by the nation with a special service on Thursday.