THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

30 April, 1916 – Germany and its World War I allies were the first to use daylight saving time

The rationale was to save energy to aid the war effort. Other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, first introduced DST later that year.


01 May, 1840 – The world's first adhesive postage stamp is issued in the UK

The Penny Black shows a portrait of Queen Victoria. Despite of its historical significance, over 68 million copies of the stamp were distributed.


02 May, 1952 – The jet age begins with the first scheduled flight of De Havilland

Precisely, one year after the maiden flight from London to Johannesburg, a Comet 1 crashed due to structural problems, killing 43 people.


03 May, 1978 – The Digital Equipment Corporation sends the world's first spam email

A representative sent out 600 emails and sold computers for $12 million. Unsolicited bulk emails have since become a scourge of the digital age of the spammers.


04 May, 1953 – Ernest Hemingway wins the Pulitzer Prize

The American author was awarded the prestigious accolade for his novel The Old Man and the Sea. It also earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature.


05 May, 1904 – Cy Young pitches the first perfect game in major league baseball

A game is considered perfect when none of the opposing players reach the first base. Young's team, the Boston Americans, won 3-0 over the Philadelphia Athletics.


06 May, 2004 – The final episode of Friends is aired

The immensely popular sitcom about the lives of six friends had been produced in 1994. The final episode The Last One was watched by record 52 million viewers.

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