What happened in May 1960?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1960, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- May 1📡 NATO Radio Beam Concerns – British scientists warn that a new NATO electronic pulse could harm individuals within a mile radius.
- May 2🕊️ Soviet May Day Parade – Soviet Union holds a May Day parade emphasizing peace, with Malinovsky highlighting summit goals.
- May 3🔬 Germ Peril in Space – Scientists urge caution on space missions to prevent microbes from being brought back to Earth.
- May 4🔬 Cancer Drugs Breakthrough – New cancer drugs show effectiveness against diseases where the body's defenses attack its own cells.
- May 5🎶 Boston Symphony Performs – The Boston Symphony Orchestra performs a 70-minute telecast in Japan, attended by Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko.
- May 6🔬 Chemical Cell Division – Compounds discovered that may influence infectious organisms and tumors, marking a potential breakthrough in medical science.
- May 7🌍 250,000 See Vivid Parade – A vibrant procession witnessed by 250,000 people as a couple sails on a royal yacht for a Caribbean voyage.
- May 8⚽ Wanderers Win Final – Wolverhampton Wanderers defeat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the soccer final at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 100,000.
- May 9🚀 Pioneer V Reports – Pioneer V transmits data from 8 million miles away using a 150-watt transmitter, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- May 10🚀 Pioneer V Signal Weakens – Pioneer V spacecraft is losing power due to a battery leak, threatening its record-making data transmission.
- May 11🔬 Oils Fight Radiation – Scientist reports promising results in antidote test for radiation in mice before research society.
- May 12🚢 Liner France Launched – De Gaulle hails the launching of the liner France, emphasizing its role in strengthening ties with the U.S.
- May 13🔬 Cancer Vaccine Promising – A medical society reports on a three-year study showing promise for an experimental cancer vaccine.
- May 14🏛️ Paris Summit Preparations – Embassies and palaces are busy preparing for the upcoming summit conference with world leaders in Paris.
- May 15🚀 Russians Orbit Satellite – Soviet Union launches a 5-ton satellite designed to test manned flight, marking a significant step in space exploration.
- May 16🚀 Soviet Space Ship Orbits – Soviet spacecraft successfully orbits Earth, marking a significant step towards human space travel.
- May 17🌍 U.S. Court Orders Integration – A U.S. court mandates New Orleans to begin pupil integration in the fall, outlining a grade-a-year plan.
- May 18⚡ Rhodesia Power Project – Queen Mother inaugurates a unit of the Kariba Hydroelectric System on the Zambezi River in Rhodesia.
- May 19🌍 Summit Talks Collapse – Western leaders discuss the failure of summit hopes as tensions rise, impacting global diplomatic relations.
- May 20🏔️ Rescue on Mt. McKinley – Five climbers call for aid after injuries and illness; rescue teams mobilize helicopters and ground support.
- May 21🌍 Eisenhower Hails Portugal – President Eisenhower concludes a visit to Portugal, calling for closer ties in the fight against communism.
- May 22🔬 Yugoslavs Begin Power Project – U.S. loan will support a major hydroelectric project in the valley near Dubrovnik, enhancing energy resources.
- May 23🔬 Biology Teaching Modernized – Experts prepare a complete revision of high school biology methods, emphasizing genetics and evolution for fall testing.
- May 24🌊 Tidal Waves Strike – Tidal waves generated by Chilean tremors cause devastation in Hawaii and Japan, resulting in at least 60 deaths.
- May 25🌋 Chile Volcanoes Erupt – Chile faces devastation as volcano eruptions lead to 1,000 deaths and 2 million homeless, with continued seismic activity affecting Japan.
- May 26🌍 Chile Quake Devastates City – Puerto Montt is left in ruins after severe earthquakes, leaving 10,000 residents homeless without power or water.
- May 27🌍 Massive Japanese Protest – Thousands of Japanese protest against President Eisenhower's visit, chanting in a carnival spirit across major cities.
- May 28🌍 Atom Test Talks Resume – Geneva discussions on nuclear testing resume, with the Soviet Union seeking assurances from the U.S. on arms control.
- May 29🌪️ Philippine Storm Impact – A severe storm in the Philippines leaves 108 dead and 150 missing, with 20,000 people rendered homeless.
- May 30🏛️ Eisenhower Visits Manila – President Eisenhower plans a visit to the Philippines from June 14-19, with potential stops in Taiwan.
- May 31🔬 New Tool Confirms Einstein – Tests of the Mossbauer Effect confirm Einstein's equivalence principle, opening avenues for further research.
Happy Birthday! 1960 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1960 in real headlines. See the 1960 book →