The home computer ZX81 is launched. The British ZX81 was one of the world's first home computer and was sold over 1.5 million times.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty enters into force. Nuclear powers China, Russia, U.S., U.K., and France initiated the treaty in 1968. It has since been ratified by 190 nations around the world.

Alberto Korda takes his famous picture of revolutionary Che Guevara. The iconic photograph, called Guerrillero Heroico, was taken at a memorial service for the victims of the La Coubre explosion.

The air brake is patented. George Westinghouse is credited with the design of the railway braking system that uses compressed air.

Nicolaus Copernicus' revolutionary book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium is banned by the Catholic Church. In the book, Copernicus claimed that the Earth revolves around the sun. The Church maintained Ptolemy's geocentric system. The book is considered a milestone in the history of astronomy.