On this day: April 12

First Known Ebola Outbreak Documented in 1976

In April 1976, health officials recorded the first known outbreak of a severe hemorrhagic fever that would later be named Ebola virus disease, centered in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire). The event prompted international investigation and raised urgent questions about transmission and containment.

NASA Launches Space Shuttle Columbia on First Orbital Flight

On April 12, 1981, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-1, the program’s inaugural orbital flight, marking the first time a reusable crewed spacecraft reached orbit and returned safely to Earth.

First Modern Lie Detector Test Administered Using Pneumograph and Cardiodynamic Recording

On April 12, 1921, University of Missouri researchers conducted what is commonly cited as the first modern lie detector test, combining respiratory and cardiovascular recordings to assess truthfulness in a criminal investigation.

A landmark night: early credited public debut of rock and roll, April 12, 1954

On April 12, 1954, music historians mark an early, often-cited public performance linked to the emergence of rock and roll—a moment reflecting shifts in rhythm, instrumentation, and audience response that helped shape a new popular style.