This Day In History : April 23

2009 United States

Gamma Ray Burst 090423 Observed as Most Distant and Oldest Object

On April 23, 2009, gamma-ray burst GRB 090423 was observed for 10 seconds. It was identified as the most distant object of any kind and the oldest known object in the universe. This discovery provided crucial insights into the early universe and cosmic events.

Also on This Day in History April 23

Discover what happened on April 23 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries,
famous births and notable deaths.

Births on This Day, April 23
  • 1856 Granville T. Woods

    American inventor who held numerous patents in diverse fields.

  • 1908 W. I. B. Beveridge

    Australian microbiologist and animal pathologist.

  • 1901 Edmund Brisco Ford

    British geneticist who made substantial contributions to the genetics of natural selection and defined and developed the science of ecological genetics.

  • 1853 Alphonse Bertillon

    French criminologist who was chief of criminal identification for the Paris police from 1880.

  • 1734 Pierre-Louis-Georges Du Buat

    French hydraulic engineer who derived formulas for computing the discharge of fluids from pipes and open channels.

Deaths on This Day, April 23
  • 1895 Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig

    German physiologist and biochemist who was one of the creators of modern physiology.

  • 1959 Edwin Ray Guthrie

    American psychologist whose work dealt with the psychology of learning and the role association plays.

  • 2011 Norio Ohga

    Japanese business executive who as a former president and chairman of Sony is credited with developing the compact disc.

  • 2007 Boris Yeltsin

    Russian politician, 1st President of Russia

  • 1960 Cornelis Jan Bakker

    Dutch nuclear physicist, Director of CERN

1962

US moon satellite

In 1962, the first American satellite to reach the moon surface, the Ranger IV, was launched at 3:50pm from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
1988

Human-Powered Flight Across Aegean Sea

On April 23, 1988, Kanellos Kanellopoulos flew the human-powered aircraft "Daedalus" across the Aegean Sea. Starting from Crete, he traveled to Santorini, covering 115 kilometers in nearly four hours. This achievement demonstrated remarkable endurance and engineering.
2005

First YouTube Video Posted

On April 23, 2005, the first video was uploaded to YouTube. Titled "Me at the zoo," it features co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo. This event marked the beginning of a platform that would revolutionize online video sharing.
1992

1992 McDonald's Opens First Restaurant in China

On April 23, 1992, McDonald's opened its first fast-food restaurant in China, located in Beijing. This marked the beginning of the American fast-food giant's expansion into the Chinese market. The opening attracted large crowds, highlighting the growing interest in Western cuisine.
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