On this day: May 3

/on/may-3

1983 • neutral • 9 views

Early concept of a self-replicating computer program outlined

A 1980s university computer lab with CRT monitors, floppy disks, and researchers examining printouts—representative scene of early computer security research.

On May 3, 1983, researcher Fred Cohen published a formal analysis describing self-replicating programs—what would come to be called computer viruses—marking one of the first large-scale conceptual treatments of the idea.

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1962 • neutral • 5 views

First Durable Heart Valve Replacement Performed, 1962

A 1960s-era operating room scene showing surgeons and perfusionist around an open-heart surgery table with early cardiopulmonary bypass equipment and surgical instruments, without identifiable faces.

On May 3, 1962, cardiac surgeons achieved the first widely recognized successful replacement of a diseased heart valve using a prosthetic device, marking a major milestone in cardiac surgery and transplantation of mechanical valves into human patients.

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1936 • neutral • 5 views

First Modern Public Housing Development Opens in 1936

Exterior view of a 1930s-era low- to mid-rise brick public housing development with courtyard lawns and walkways, period automobiles parked on the street, and residents in 1930s clothing.

On May 3, 1936, the first large-scale modern public housing development in the United States opened, marking a shift toward federally supported, planned housing for low-income urban residents amid New Deal reforms.

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