On this day: January 8
A 14-year-old became a national chess champion
On January 8, 1958, a skinny, soft-spoken teenager from Brooklyn did something that seemed impossible.
Residents Evacuate Small Town After Persistent Low-Frequency Humming in January 2012
On January 8, 2012, residents of a small town reported a persistent low-frequency hum that many said disrupted sleep and daily life; widespread distress and health complaints prompted local authorities to organize a temporary evacuation while investigations continued.
Nikola Tesla Publicly Describes His Proposed 'Death Ray' Concept
On January 8, 1934, inventor Nikola Tesla outlined a weaponized directed-energy concept—popularly dubbed a 'death ray'—claiming it could destroy aircraft and armies at a distance and serve as a deterrent to war.
David Bowie’s Final Album Released Days Before His Death
David Bowie released his 25th studio album, Blackstar, on January 8, 2016 — his 69th birthday — less than two weeks before his death on January 10, 2016. The album has been widely interpreted in light of Bowie’s private battle with illness.
Gunmen ambush Togo national football team bus in Angolan border region
On January 8, 2010, gunmen attacked the bus carrying the Togo national football team en route to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola; several people were killed and others wounded in an attack later attributed to separatist militants.
Titans' 'Music City Miracle' Sends Tennessee to AFC Championship
On a kickoff return play known as the 'Music City Miracle,' the Tennessee Titans executed a last-second lateral that resulted in a touchdown, overturning the game's expected outcome and advancing Tennessee to the AFC Championship.
U.S. Declassifies Manhattan Project Documents
On January 8, 1962, the U.S. government declassified portions of the Manhattan Project record, making previously secret wartime research, planning and administrative documents available to historians and the public.
Titans' 'Music City Miracle' advances Tennessee to AFC Championship
On Jan. 8, 2000, the Tennessee Titans pulled off the 'Music City Miracle'—a last-second kickoff return play that reversed a playoff loss into a 22–16 victory over the Buffalo Bills and sent Tennessee to the AFC Championship game.