On this day: September 3

Human Footprints Found in Sealed Cave in 1978

On September 3, 1978, researchers reported discovering human footprints beneath flowstone in a sealed cave chamber, prompting debate about the prints’ age and how they were preserved.

High school football team forfeits 1988 game after players refuse to play in extreme heat

On September 3, 1988, a high school football team refused to take the field in a scheduled game because of dangerously high temperatures; the school awarded a forfeit and the incident prompted local debate about player safety and heat policies.

Soviet Nuclear Test Announcement Raises Cold War Tensions

On September 3, 1961, Soviet authorities announced a new nuclear test, intensifying already high Cold War tensions as Western governments and publics weighed the implications for arms competition and global security.

Supreme Court Upholds School Busing in 1974 Ruling

On September 3, 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision affirming that federal courts could order busing to remedy proven school segregation—clarifying limits but preserving judicial authority to enforce desegregation.