Geek Facts

In 1961, a dog named Chernushka (Blackie) became the first dog returned from space, aboard Sputnik 9. Chernushka’s companions included a dummy cosmonaut, mice and a guinea pig. The flight was a success and Chernushka was recovered successfully. Learn more at http://space.about.com/od/sputnik/a/DogsInSpace.htm

In 1886, the first US alternating current power plant was started in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Developed first in France, Italy and Germany, alternating current proved to be the best method for harnessing electric power. Learn more at http://edisontechcenter.org/HistElectPowTrans.html

In 1827, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta died at age 82. Alessandro Volta’s voltaic pile was the first battery that produced a reliable, steady current of electricity. Learn more at http://inventors.about.com/od/utstartinventors/a/Alessandro_Volta.htm

In 1977, the first CRAY 1 supercomputer was shipped. In the late 1970s, the Cray 1 became synonymous with high-speed computing./blockquote> Learn more at http://www.answers.com/topic/cray-inc In 1774, William Herschel first sighted Orion nebula. The Nebula is actually part of a larger nebula structure known as

In 1838, astronomer George W. Hill was born. His calculation of the effects of the planets on the moon’s motion was a particular case of the famous three-body problem, which dates back to Isaac Newton. Learn more at http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/George_William.aspx

In 1983, Compact Disc recording developed by Philips and Sony introduced to the US and European markets. The CD ushered in a shift from analog to digital in the music industry and spawned new digital technologies, including CD-Rom and DVD. Learn more at http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/about/news/press/20070816_25th_anniversary_cd.wpd

In 1968, the first pulsar (CP 1919) was discovered by Jocelyn Burnell at Cambridge. A neutron star is made up of a very compact core, which is left when massive stars explode. Pulsars are the beams of radiation that emit from a neutron star as

In 1956, Jay Forrester was issued a patent for computer core memory. Jay Forrester invented core memory in 1949. It became the dominant form of computer memory in the 1950s, and remained in use until the late 1970s. Learn more at http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blforrester.htm

In 1935, Robert Watson-Watt first demonstrated RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging). The demonstration was for the British Air Ministry. RADAR played an important role in saving Great Britain from defeat in World War II. Learn more at http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/02/dayintech_0226

In 1837, the first U.S. electric printing press was patented by Thomas Davenport. Thomas Davenport designed a motor that was strong enough to run a small printing press in 1834. He later patented the motor in 1837. Read more about early applications of electricity at