On this day: February 15

Roswell debris explanation revised again after new analysis

Officials and researchers have revised their explanation of the 1947 Roswell debris multiple times; a recent report reinterprets physical fragments and eyewitness testimony, prompting renewed debate over whether the material was military balloon hardware, experimental craft components, or something else.

The First Documented Disappearance of a Lighthouse Crew, February 15, 1900

On 15 February 1900 a lighthouse crew was recorded as missing while serving at an isolated light station; contemporary reports emphasize hazardous sea conditions and limited evidence, and the incident remains an early documented example of a lighthouse crew disappearance.

Pentagon Acknowledges Near-Launch of Nuclear Missiles in 1996 Incident

In February 1996 the Pentagon disclosed that U.S. nuclear forces came close to launching due to a series of errors and miscommunications; officials said procedural safeguards ultimately prevented an accidental launch.

CIA Declassifies Files on Cold War Mind-Control Research

On February 15, 1975, the CIA disclosed documents revealing government-funded experiments into behavior modification and interrogation techniques—sparking public debate over ethics, oversight and the limits of intelligence research.

FDA Approves First Antipsychotic Drug

On February 15, 1954, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved chlorpromazine for psychiatric use, marking the first regulatory approval of an antipsychotic and beginning a major shift in treatments for psychosis and institutional care.

FBI Opens Files on Watergate Informants

On February 15, 2005, the FBI released previously withheld files related to informants in the Watergate investigation, providing researchers new primary-source material about the bureau’s handling of sources during the 1972–74 scandal.