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NASA reports liquid water on Mars

The discovery was made by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter probe (MRO). Although the water was called liquid, it was more like mud on Earth. MRO confirmed that the mud contains hydrated salts. The phenomenon occurs during the warmest months on Mars. The mud flows visible on slopes. The probe was orbiting the red planet from 2006.

SpaceX launches the first private spacecraft into orbit

The Falcon 1 was an expendable launch system privately developed and manufactured by SpaceX during 2006–2009. In 2008, Falcon 1 became the first privately-developed liquid-fuel launch vehicle to go into orbit around the Earth. Falcon 1 achieved orbit on its fourth attempt, in 2008 with a mass simulator as a payload.

Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

Fleming had been investigating the properties of staphylococcus bacterium. His laboratory was often untidy. One day, he returned from holiday and noticed that one staphylococcus culture was contaminated with a fungus. Bacterial colonies immediately surrounding the fungus had been destroyed. The fungus produced something which killed the bacteria.

First round-the-world flight is completed

The first aerial circumnavigation of the world was conducted in 1924 by a team of aviators of the United States Army Air Service, the precursor of the United States Air Force. The trip took 175 days, covering over 27,553 miles.

California is discovered

The first European to explore the California coast was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, working for Spain. He died in southern California in 1543. Cabrillo and his men found that there was essentially nothing for the Spanish to easily exploit in California.

Anniversaries of the (in)famous