On this day: February 14
House Reportedly Shifts Inches Each Night on Valentine’s Day, 1907
On February 14, 1907, residents of a small town reported that a house appeared to move several inches nightly without clear explanation; contemporary accounts debated natural causes, measurement error and local folklore.
CIA Acknowledges Past Monitoring of Hollywood Figures
On Feb. 14, 1999, U.S. intelligence officials publicly acknowledged that the CIA had, at times, monitored Hollywood personalities during the Cold War era for possible propaganda influence and security concerns. The admission followed declassified records and internal reviews revealing surveillance and liaison activities involving the film industry.
Early documented instance of a cult leader proclaiming divinity, 1951
On February 14, 1951, proselytizing by a small religious movement culminated in a public declaration by its leader asserting divine status—one of the earliest well-documented instances in modern Western press of a cult leader explicitly claiming to be God. The episode drew legal and journalistic attention amid postwar social anxieties.
Goalkeeper Arrested After Years Using False Identity
A professional goalkeeper was arrested on February 14, 2004, accused of playing under a false identity for years. Authorities say the deception affected registrations and contracts; investigations continue into the scope and motive.
Pentagon Confirms Cold War 'Doomsday' Drills Were Conducted
The Pentagon acknowledged that at least one Cold War-era exercise involved simulated nuclear command-and-control scenarios that Americans and allies feared could trigger real-world escalation; officials say the drills were intended to test deterrence and continuity plans.
A Self-Proclaimed Divine Leader Appears in 1951
On February 14, 1951, a documented instance occurred of a leader publicly declaring himself divine, marking a notable moment in postwar religious movements and prompting contemporary debate over authority, belief, and legal response.
First Confirmed Case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Identified
On February 14, 1985, British veterinary authorities identified a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), later known as mad cow disease, marking the first confirmed diagnosis that led to investigations into a novel neurodegenerative cattle disease linked to feed practices.
A night without sleep: the first recorded human sleep-deprivation experiment (1896)
On Feb. 14, 1896, British physician and physiologist F.W. E. A. von Schrötter documented an early controlled sleep-deprivation trial, observing cognitive and physiological effects after prolonged wakefulness—an antecedent to modern sleep research.
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago leaves seven dead
On February 14, 1929, seven men were found murdered in a North Side Chicago garage in what became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, a pivotal event in the city’s Prohibition-era gang conflicts.
Design for the first atomic bomb is finalized at Los Alamos
On February 14, 1945, scientists at the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos laboratory finalized the design for the first plutonium implosion-type atomic bomb, completing key engineering and physics decisions that enabled the Trinity test and subsequent wartime use.
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: Seven Men Killed in Chicago Gangland Ambush
On February 14, 1929, seven men associated with Chicago’s North Side Gang were lined up and shot in a South Side garage in an execution that crystallized the city’s violent gang conflicts during Prohibition.
House Explodes After Resident Lights Cigarette Following Gas Leak
On February 14, 1998, a residential house exploded after a resident reportedly ignited a cigarette following a suspected natural gas leak. The blast caused extensive property damage and prompted an investigation into the source of the leak and adherence to safety protocols.
Manhattan Project Finalizes Bomb Design on February 14, 1945
On February 14, 1945, scientists and military leaders in the Manhattan Project completed the final technical design for the first plutonium implosion-type atomic bomb, moving the weapon from experimental tests toward operational use.
Supreme Court Rules Racially Segregated Housing Unconstitutional
On February 14, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court held that laws and ordinances enforcing racial segregation in housing violate constitutional protections, a decision that overturned longstanding local and state practices and signaled a legal shift in civil rights governance.
Oscar Pistorius fatally shoots Reeva Steenkamp at home on Valentine’s Day 2013
On 14 February 2013, South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at his Pretoria home. The case led to a high-profile criminal trial that raised questions about domestic violence, gun safety, and legal standards in South Africa.
Supreme Court Strike Against Housing Segregation Upholds Constitutional Equality
On Feb. 14, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racially restrictive housing practices violated constitutional principles, marking a pivotal legal rebuke to segregation in housing and advancing federal protection for civil rights in property and neighborhood access.