Science is collaborative, painstaking and iterative, with progress slow and some unsung scientific heroes lost to time. But every once in a while, a key event, discovery or conceptual breakthrough has had a galvanizing effect on science. Each week, we take a look at the moments in science history that changed the world we live in — and our understanding of it.
Latest about On this day in science history
Science history: Edwin Hubble uncovers the vastness of the universe with discovery of 'standard candle' — Oct. 5, 1923
On the night of Oct. 5, 1923, Edwin Hubble observed a strange star that flickered in intensity at regular intervals. The star, dubbed M31-V1, was key to showing that the universe extended far beyond the borders of the Milky Way.
Science history: Invention of the transistor ushers in the computing era — Oct. 3, 1950
On Oct. 3, 1950, three Bell Labs scientists received a patent for a "three-electrode circuit element" that would usher in the transistor age and the era of modern computing.
Alexander Fleming wakes up to funny mold in his petri dish, and accidentally discovers the first antibiotic — Sept. 28, 1928
Science history Alexander Fleming was doing experiments with bacteria when he woke up to a strange mold growing in his petri dish. The "mold juice" would usher in the first antibiotic, penicillin, and would revolutionize medical care for bacterial infections.
Science history: Rosetta stone is deciphered, opening a window into ancient Egyptian civilization — Sept. 27, 1822
On Sept. 27, 1822, French philologist Jean-François Champollion announced that he had deciphered ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, using the Rosetta stone. This ushered in a new craze for Egyptology and helped us understand one of the world's longest-running civilizations.
Science history: DART, humanity’s first-ever asteroid deflection mission, punches a space rock in the face — Sept. 26, 2022
On Sept. 26, 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test craft smashed into its target, the hazardous asteroid Dimorphos, and raised hopes that a space rock could be deflected from a collision course with Earth.
A tragic gene therapy death that stalled the field for a decade — Sept. 17, 1999
On this day in science history Sept. 17, 1999: Jesse Gelsinger died after receiving a gene therapy treatment to treat a liver disease. The death sparked an investigation and caution around gene therapy, which ultimately stalled the field for years.
