French biologist, author, inventor, co-developed the aqua-lung
German composer, conductor
American football player
English writer
American actor
Russian psychologist
American actor, director, producer
German/Austrian politician, 1st State Chancellor of the Austrian Empire
Italian philosopher
American author
In 2010, the 19th association football world cup was hosted in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the first time the event was held on the African continent. The tournament featured 32 teams from around the world, with Spain emerging as the winner, defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final.
In 1959, British engineer Christopher Cockerell presented his prototype for the hovercraft, the SR.N1. The amphibious air-cushion vehicle was a groundbreaking invention, and within weeks of its demonstration, it made its first crossing of the English Channel. Although scheduled "flights" between Dover (U.K.) and Calais (France) were discontinued in 2000, the hovercraft remains an important transportation technology.
In 1955, the Le Mans car race in France was the site of one of the worst car racing accidents in history. During the race, Pierre Levegh's Mercedes crashed into a crowd of spectators, killing more than 80 people and injuring hundreds more. The tragedy led to significant safety improvements in motorsports, including better barriers and safety equipment for drivers.
In 1938, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese government created the 1938 Yellow River flood as a strategy to halt invading Japanese forces. This massive flood, which was intentionally caused by destroying dikes along the Yellow River, affected millions of people and caused significant damage to the region. Some estimates suggest that up to 800,000 people may have died as a result of the flood and its aftermath.
In 1817, German inventor Karl Drais demonstrated his revolutionary two-wheeled vehicle, known as the Laufmaschine or Draisine. This early predecessor of the bicycle did not have pedals and was propelled by the rider's feet pushing off the ground. Drais completed a 14 km test run in less than an hour, showcasing the potential of his invention as a faster and more efficient alternative to transportation by horse.