The first artists are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among the first inductees were Ray Charles, James Brown, and Elvis Presley.

The “Trieste” dives to a record depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 ft). Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh reached the bottom of Challenger Deep, the Earth's deepest known point.

Walter Frederick Morrison sells the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O toy company. Today, the Frisbee is used around the world as both a toy and as part of flying disc games, such as Ultimate.

Israel proclaims Jerusalem as its capital. Despite international protests, the Knesset passed a resolution stating that the divided city will be the country's capital.

The deadliest earthquake on record kills some 830,000 people. The epicenter was in the Wei River Valley in Shaanxi Province, China.