On this day: January 6
The Day One Political Faction Tried to Overthrow the United States Government
On January 6, 2021, the United States experienced something it had not seen since the War of 1812: a violent assault on its own seat of government.
Attack on Nancy Kerrigan Tied to Associates of Tonya Harding
On January 6, 1994, U.S. figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was struck behind the knee in an assault later linked by investigators to associates of fellow skater Tonya Harding, triggering a major criminal and sports investigation that reverberated through the Olympic season.
The Worst Witch Panic in Scottish History Escalates: Fear, Torture, and the Invention of Evil
In the late 17th century, Scotland was gripped by a terror that fed on paranoia, religious extremism, and political instability.
Brawl Breaks Out as St. Louis Blues Players and Coach Enter Stands in 1972 Incident
On January 6, 1972, a bench-clearing brawl at a Blues home game escalated when St. Louis Blues coach and several players went into the spectator stands to confront fans, resulting in injuries and suspensions and prompting debate over player-spectator boundaries in professional hockey.
2003 Hoax Claims First Human Clone, Sparks Global Reaction
On January 6, 2003, media outlets reported that a group had produced the world’s first human clone—a claim quickly exposed as a hoax—touching off ethical debates, regulatory scrutiny, and widespread public alarm.
The Worst Witch Panic in Scottish History Escalates: Fear, Torture and the Making of Evil
On January 6 in Scottish history a notorious witch panic intensified into mass accusations, torture and executions that shaped beliefs about diabolism for generations. The events fused local fear, legal change and religious fervor into what contemporaries called a crisis of evil.
Al Capone Released from Alcatraz After Conviction and Imprisonment
On January 6, 1939, former Chicago mob boss Al Capone was released from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to a hospital in Baltimore for continued treatment of neurosyphilis and related health complications at the end of his federal sentence.
Al Capone Released from Alcatraz After Serving Sentence for Tax Evasion
Infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone was released from Alcatraz following his imprisonment for tax evasion and related convictions; his transfer and conditional release reflected his declining health and the mid-20th-century federal penal practices.
First U.S. Successful Human Heart Transplant Performed
On January 6, 1968, surgeons at the University of Maryland performed what is widely reported as the first successful human heart transplant in the United States, marking a major milestone in cardiac surgery amid growing ethical and technical debates.
NASA Confirms Past Water on Mars
On January 6, 2004, NASA announced evidence that liquid water once flowed on Mars, based on data from orbiters and the Mars Exploration Rovers indicating ancient river channels, mineral deposits formed in water, and features shaped by erosion.
The First Notable Kidney Transplant Rejection, January 6, 1954
On January 6, 1954, surgeons and clinicians observed a clear rejection reaction after an early human kidney transplant attempt, highlighting immune barriers that would shape transplant medicine and spur research into immunosuppression.
Attack on Nancy Kerrigan Linked to Associates of Tonya Harding
On January 6, 1994, U.S. figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was struck on the knee after a practice session; investigators later tied the assault to associates of fellow skater Tonya Harding, triggering a major criminal and sporting controversy.