On this day: August 8
Olympic Runner Collapses After Receiving Wrong Medication
On August 8, 1984, an Olympic middle-distance runner collapsed after being given medication intended for another athlete. The incident prompted an immediate medical response and raised questions about medication handling in the Olympic Village.
Massive Manhunt Follows London Bombings
On 8 August 2005, London police launched a large-scale manhunt and heightened security after explosions struck the city's public transport network, prompting nationwide investigations and emergency responses.
United States Prepares Second Atomic Bomb as Operations Accelerate
On August 8, 1945, U.S. authorities reported preparations for a second atomic bomb following the bombing of Hiroshima, with military and logistical efforts accelerating amid uncertainty about Japan’s response and the Soviet entry into the war.
United States detonates first thermonuclear device at Enewetak Atoll
On August 8, 1952, the United States conducted Ivy Mike, the first full-scale test of a thermonuclear (hydrogen) device, at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific, marking a major advance in nuclear weapons technology with far-reaching military and scientific consequences.