THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

29 January, 1996 – France stops nuclear testing

President Jaques Chirac announced the “definite end” to France's nuclear testing program just one day after the country exploded a nuclear device in the South Pacific.


30 January, 1982 – The first computer virus is released “into the wild”

Elk Cloner was created by 15-year-old Richard Skrenta as a practical joke.


31 January, 2000 – Alaska Airlines flight 261 crashes into the sea

The MD-83 experienced horizontal stabiliser problems before descending into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 people on board.


01 February, 1884 – The first fascicle of the Oxford English Dictionary is published

The book contained entries A to Ant.


02 February, 1943 – The Battle of Stalingrad comes to an end as the Axis Powers surrender

Germany's defeat marked a turning point in the World War II.


03 February, 1966 – Luna 9 touches down on the Moon

The unmanned Soviet spacecraft was the first to achieve a soft landing over there.


04 February, 2004 – Facebook is founded

The social networking service currently has over one billion active users.

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