From the archives
Classic headlineMilk Drinkers Are Turning to Powder
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Coincidence Engine
Two birth milestones share this date — Henri Matisse born (1869) and Anthony Hopkins born (1937), 68 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Milk Drinkers Are Turning to PowderHall of Fame◆
- 1887A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.The New York Times◆
- 2020From leave vote to last-ditch deal – a big Brexit timelineThe Guardian◆
- 2014The morning after: how to lessen your hangoverThe Guardian◆
- 1878Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.Wikipedia◆
- 1225The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed]Wikipedia◆
- 1879Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.Wikipedia◆
- 1790Efimeris, the oldest Greek newspaper of which issues have survived till today, is published for the first time.Wikipedia◆
- 1687The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope.Wikipedia◆
- 1501The First Battle of Cannanore commences, seeing the first use of the naval line of battle.[citation needed]Wikipedia◆
- 2006War in Somalia: Transitional Federal Government forces attacked the last stronghold of the Islamic Courts Union in the town of Jilib.Wikipedia◆
- 1961RTÉ, Ireland's first television network, began broadcasting.Wikipedia◆
- 1950Korean War: North Korean troops attacked United Nations forces in the first of two battles at Wonju.Wikipedia◆
- 1907New York City held its first annual ball drop event in Times Square as part of New Year's Eve celebrations.Wikipedia◆
- Milk Drinkers Are Turning to PowderHall of Fame◆
- 1887A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.The New York Times◆
- 2020From leave vote to last-ditch deal – a big Brexit timelineThe Guardian◆
- 2014The morning after: how to lessen your hangoverThe Guardian◆
- 1878Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.Wikipedia◆
- 1225The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed]Wikipedia◆
- 1879Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.Wikipedia◆
- 1790Efimeris, the oldest Greek newspaper of which issues have survived till today, is published for the first time.Wikipedia◆
- 1687The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope.Wikipedia◆
- 1501The First Battle of Cannanore commences, seeing the first use of the naval line of battle.[citation needed]Wikipedia◆
- 2006War in Somalia: Transitional Federal Government forces attacked the last stronghold of the Islamic Courts Union in the town of Jilib.Wikipedia◆
- 1961RTÉ, Ireland's first television network, began broadcasting.Wikipedia◆
- 1950Korean War: North Korean troops attacked United Nations forces in the first of two battles at Wonju.Wikipedia◆
- 1907New York City held its first annual ball drop event in Times Square as part of New Year's Eve celebrations.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Val Kilmer1959- Anthony Hopkins1937
- Henri Matisse1869
31 December in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
No verified events yet for 31 December.
What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — December 31
1878 First everKarl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1225 Oddly trueThe Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed]
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1879 First everThomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1790 First everEfimeris, the oldest Greek newspaper of which issues have survived till today, is published for the first time.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1687 First everThe first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2020The GuardianFrom leave vote to last-ditch deal – a big Brexit timelineKey landmarks along the bumpy road towards Britain’s departure from the EU
Read on The Guardian →
2014The GuardianThe morning after: how to lessen your hangoverYou may have woken up feeling a little ropey. Here’s a few tips for getting over your new year’s hangover
Read on The Guardian →- 1887The New York Times · Front pageA DEADLY ENCOUNTER.
ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 30.--Mr. Ben Shepard, Marshal of Midville, received information that an escaped negro convict was…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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Did you guess the year?
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When was “Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, files for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine. He was granted the patent in 1879.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1225 Oddly true
The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed]
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1879 First ever
Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 31 December — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1869Birth
Henri Matisse born
Henri Matisse was born. French artist.
1937Birth
Anthony Hopkins born
Anthony Hopkins was born. Welsh actor.
1959Birth
Val Kilmer born
Val Kilmer was born. American actor.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Assassinated
1968Death
Martin Luther King Jr. dies
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, died on this day in 1968. Assassinated in Memphis. Remembered as: Prominent leader in the American civil rights movement.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Assassinated
1865Death
Abraham Lincoln dies
Abraham Lincoln, politician, died on this day in 1865. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Remembered as: 16th President of the US, led the nation during the Civil War.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Assassinated
1948Death
Death of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse.
Famous birthdays
23 this weekToday · 31 December
- Val KilmerAmerican actor (1959–2025)Born 1959 · 67 years ago today
- Anthony HopkinsWelsh actor (born 1937)Born 1937 · 89 years ago today
- Henri MatisseFrench artist (1869–1954)Born 1869 · 157 years ago today
Coming up this week
Colin MorganIrish actor (born 1986)1 January · born 1986
Vidya BalanIndian film actress (born 1979)1 January · born 1979
Paul RevereAmerican silversmith and military officer (1735–1818)1 January · born 1735
Kate BosworthAmerican actress (born 1983)2 January · born 1983
Cuba Gooding Jr.American actor (born 1968)2 January · born 1968
Isaac AsimovAmerican writer and biochemist (1920–1992)2 January · born 1920
Holiday31 December
New Year's Eve
The final day of the Gregorian year, celebrated worldwide with countdowns, midnight fireworks, and hopeful resolutions for the incoming year.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 31 December.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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