On this day: February 7
Local cricket match halted when swarm of bees overruns pitch
A scheduled cricket match on February 7, 1975, was abandoned after a large swarm of bees descended on the playing field, making conditions unsafe for players and spectators. Officials cleared the ground and postponed play until the insects dispersed.
Pentagon Confirms Existence of Secret Underground Command Centers
On Feb. 7, 1991, the Pentagon acknowledged the existence of undisclosed subterranean command centers built during the Cold War and later maintained for continuity-of-government and military command purposes; details on locations and capabilities remain limited or classified.
Pentagon Acknowledges Cold War-Era Chemical Agent Tests on U.S. Soldiers
In February 1994 the Pentagon confirmed that chemical agents and simulants had been tested on U.S. service members during Cold War-era programs, acknowledging health and ethical concerns that prompted investigations and policy changes.
First Confirmed Case of Cloning Fraud Exposed in 2002
On February 7, 2002, investigators publicly confirmed that sequences and claims from a high-profile human cloning announcement were fraudulent, marking the first widely accepted exposure of cloning-related scientific fraud.
Beatlemania Lands in America: The Beatles Arrive in New York, February 7, 1964
On February 7, 1964, The Beatles arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, touching off an unprecedented wave of public excitement and media attention that came to be called "Beatlemania." Their arrival marked a rapid shift in American popular culture and the start of the British Invasion.
Official Revision Raises Number of Berlin Wall Border Deaths
East German authorities revised the official count of people who died trying to cross the Berlin Wall, increasing the number and prompting renewed attention to the human cost of the border regime during the Cold War.
East Germany Revises Official Berlin Wall Death Toll
On 7 February 1990 East German authorities published a revised tally of people who had died at the Berlin Wall and inner-German border, updating earlier figures assembled under the GDR. The revision reflected new access to records and investigative efforts after the Wall fell in November 1989.
The Beatles Arrive in America, Triggering a National Fervor
On February 7, 1964, The Beatles landed in New York City, beginning a U.S. visit that ignited widespread fan hysteria, reshaped popular music, and signaled the start of the 'British Invasion.'