An earthquake kills 316,000 in Haiti. Most of the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, was destroyed during the disaster.

The U.S. Congress votes for war in Iraq. President George H. W. Bush was given the authority to use military force to expel Iraq from Kuwait.

Led Zeppelin releases their debut album. The album was imaginatively named “Led Zeppelin”.

James Bedford is frozen with intent of future resuscitation. Bedford was the first human to be cryonically preserved; his body awaits resuscitation in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The first long-distance radio message is broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Scientist Lee de Forest's broadcast was heard by an audience of 50.