Apple releases the first iPhone. The iPhone revolutionized the smartphone industry and for a while made Apple one of the world's most valuable companies.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian space station Mir. The rendezvous in space marked a new age of cooperation between the former Cold War adversaries. The docking created the largest man-made Earth satellite in history.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are banned to protect the ozone layer. The London Amendment to the Montreal Protocol stipulated that CFCs be phased out by 2000 in developed countries and by 2010 in developing countries. CFCs are one of the substances most harmful to the ozone layer, escalating the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Richard Branson breaks the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing by boat. The British businessman took about three days to cross the ocean in his speedboat “Virgin Atlantic Challenger II”. He was denied the prestigious Blue Riband for the fastest crossing because he refueled on the way.

Two U.S. aviators complete the first transpacific flight. Lester Maitland and Albert Hegenberger had taken off from Oakland Municipal Airport the previous day. Their “Bird of Paradise” aircraft touched down in Oahu, Hawaii 25 hours and 50 minutes later.