What happened in April 1959?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1959, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Apr 1✈️ Jetliners Replace Piston – American Airlines transitions from DC-7 piston planes to Boeing 707 jetliners for coast runs, marking a significant aviation milestone.
- Apr 2🌊 Rich Life Found – Depths once thought devoid of organisms are yielding a wide range of species in sea trenches.
- Apr 3🔬 Cancer Cure Reported – Physicians report an unusual case where the blood of a melanoma victim helped another sufferer recover from cancer.
- Apr 4🗺️ Dalai Lama Asylum – Dalai Lama receives asylum in India, with Nehru pledging respectful treatment for the fleeing Tibetan leader.
- Apr 5🔬 Hormones Linked to Growth – Steroids help transport hydrogen atoms in the body, as discussed at a cancer meeting.
- Apr 6🏆 Wall Wins Masters Golf – Wall birdies 5 of last 6 holes to capture the Masters Golf title with a score of 284, edging out Middlecoff.
- Apr 7🔬 New Steel Output Record – Steel production reached 93.2% operations last week, yielding 2,638,000 tons, though the goal was not attained.
- Apr 8🗻 Antarctic Peaks Mapped – New expedition reveals Antarctic peaks are smaller and mislocated compared to earlier air surveys.
- Apr 9🚀 Space Device Development – Scientists target late summer for a vehicle capable of putting humans into orbit, marking a significant advancement in space exploration.
- Apr 10🚀 Space Pilots Selected – Seven pilots chosen for upcoming space flights, including the first manned satellite mission set for 1961.
- Apr 11🌾 Wheat Crop Drop Predicted – This year's wheat crop is estimated at 1.2 billion bushels, below the 1958 record, leading to a surplus.
- Apr 12🔬 Sound's Use in Research – Illinois scientists highlight the potential of million-cycle sound waves as a powerful tool in brain studies.
- Apr 13⛪ Pope Canonizes Saints – Pope proclaims two new saints, an Italian friar and a Spanish nun, during a four-hour ceremony at the Vatican.
- Apr 14🔬 Discoverer Launched – The Discoverer satellite was successfully launched into polar orbit, aiming for recovery efforts after previous failures.
- Apr 15🔬 Protein Structure Revealed – Biologists showcase a photo of myoglobin from whale muscle, revealing its intricate tangled coil structure.
- Apr 16🎭 Bolshoi Ballet Opening – The Bolshoi Ballet opens with 'Romeo and Juliet', drawing a standing-room line 39 hours before the curtain rises.
- Apr 17🎭 Bolshoi Opening Celebrated – The Bolshoi Ballet's performance of 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Met receives a warm reception from a glittering audience.
- Apr 18🔬 Iced Blood Surgery – Direct chilling of organs allows longer heart surgeries, according to a V.A. physiologist's report.
- Apr 19🔬 U.S. Space Program Advances – The U.S. space program enters a new phase with 'Second Generation' experiments following initial explorations.
- Apr 20🕊️ Dalai Lama's Benediction – 5,000 Tibetans gather in Siliguri to receive a brief blessing from the Dalai Lama during his journey across India.
- Apr 21🔬 Neomycin Cuts Blood Fat – Neomycin shows potential in reducing cholesterol levels, offering insights into arteriosclerosis treatment.
- Apr 22🌍 Global Sales Techniques Shared – Industrial leaders from 44 nations gather to discuss and apply effective sales techniques in a global business forum.
- Apr 23🚗 Cars Race at Polo – High-speed cars will race at Polo Grounds, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour this Saturday.
- Apr 24🔬 Math Conjecture Solved – A 26-year-old student proves the finite conjecture, a 50-year-old math problem, hailed for its potential practical value.
- Apr 25🌸 World's Flowers Exhibition – Paris hosts the largest flower exhibition in history, featuring participation from 18 nations showcasing diverse floral displays.
- Apr 26🚀 Britain Weighs Satellite Plan – The British government is likely to yield to calls for its own space exploration program amid growing interest.
- Apr 27🌊 Ocean Study on Waste – Skin-divers will gather data as simulated atomic waste is dropped into the sea for environmental research.
- Apr 28🔬 Eisenhower at Science Forum – President Eisenhower is scheduled to speak on basic research needs at a symposium on May 14.
- Apr 29🔬 Science Academy Donation – Equitable Life donates $1 million for a new wing at the Science Academy, with 30 new members elected.
- Apr 30🎉 Hirohito's 58th Birthday – Emperor Hirohito celebrated his 58th birthday, drawing large crowds in response to a campaign to popularize the Japanese throne.
Happy Birthday! 1959 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1959 in real headlines. See the 1959 book →