What happened in July 1979?
The top front-page story of each day in July 1979, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jul 1🏛️ Pope Installs Cardinals – Pope John Paul II installed 14 new cardinals but kept the name of a 15th secret, possibly due to political reasons.
- Jul 2🏁 Jabouille Wins Grand Prix – Jean-Pierre Jabouille won the French Grand Prix, overtaking Gilles Villeneuve on the 48th lap in a thrilling race.
- Jul 3🏊 U.S. Sweeps Swim Golds – U.S. swimmers achieved a historic sweep of all five gold medals at the Pan American Games, setting new records in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Jul 4🌕 Moon Resource Treaty Approved – An international treaty on the exploitation of the moon's resources was approved by the UN Committee on Outer Space after seven years of negotiations.
- Jul 5🌍 Algerians Free Ben Bella – The Algerian government has decided to release former President Ahmed Ben Bella after 14 years of house arrest.
- Jul 6🌍 Isle of Man Parliament – Isle of Man marks the millennium of its parliament, established by Vikings over a thousand years ago.
- Jul 7🌌 Sulfur Dioxide on Io – Scientists discovered a tenuous sulfur dioxide atmosphere on Io, one of Jupiter's moons, likely from its erupting volcanoes.
- Jul 8🇯🇵 Japanese Oil Concerns – Nearly 60% of Japanese citizens expressed fear of nuclear power, showing rising public concern post-nuclear incidents.
- Jul 9🏅 Miss Woodhead Wins Gold – Cynthia Woodhead clinched her fifth gold medal at the Pan American Games, showcasing her swimming prowess in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Jul 10🚀 Voyager 2 Nears Jupiter – Voyager 2 flew within 404,000 miles of Jupiter, sending back stunning images and data about the planet and its moon Io.
- Jul 11🚀 Voyager 2 Maneuver – Engineers successfully maneuvered Voyager 2 to preserve its option to observe Uranus in 1986 after a rendezvous with Saturn.
- Jul 12🌌 Skylab Debris Falls – Skylab space station disintegrated over Australia, showering debris across the Great Australian Desert without causing harm.
- Jul 13🛩️ Pan Am Jet Cracks – F.A.A. reports similar cracks in Boeing 747 engine mounts found in older jets, prompting safety reviews.
- Jul 14🌊 Indian Ocean Sanctuary – The International Whaling Commission established a whaling sanctuary in the Indian Ocean for at least 10 years, rejecting a worldwide ban on sperm whaling.
- Jul 15🛰️ Skylab Falls to Earth – The Skylab space station re-entered Earth's atmosphere, scattering debris over Australia with no reported injuries.
- Jul 16🚀 Soviet Astronauts Set Record – Two Soviet astronauts aboard Salyut 6 set a space flight endurance record of 140 days, surpassing the previous mark.
- Jul 17🔬 Human Growth Hormone Created – Scientists have successfully produced a replica of the human growth hormone molecule in a laboratory, marking a significant scientific breakthrough.
- Jul 18🏅 Coe Runs Mile Record – Sebastian Coe breaks the mile world record, finishing in 3 minutes 49 seconds at the Dubai Golden Mile in Oslo.
- Jul 19🌱 Bamboo Blooms Rarely – A rare bamboo species, known as 'umbrella,' has begun to bloom for the first time in 100 years, captivating botanists worldwide.
- Jul 20🌕 Decade After Moon Trip – Ten years after the moon landing, its significance remains debated, reflecting on humanity's historic achievement in space exploration.
- Jul 21🌍 Bamboo Blooms Worldwide – A rare bamboo plant that blooms once every century has begun flowering globally, exciting botanists and prompting studies for propagation.
- Jul 22🏛️ Pope Visits U.S – Pope John Paul II will visit the U.S. and Ireland in late September, marking a historic trip including a speech at the U.N. General Assembly.
- Jul 23🌍 Nuclear Plant Protest – Over 4,000 anti-nuclear demonstrators gathered in New Hampshire, joining hands in song during a weekend rally against the Seabrook Nuclear Plant.
- Jul 24🌍 New Press Code Iran – Iran's revolutionary government adopted a new press code limiting foreign reporters' movements and interviews without permission.
- Jul 25🌊 Algae Discovered in Antarctica – Divers found algae thriving under Antarctic lake ice, adapting to low sunlight, marking a significant ecological discovery.
- Jul 26👑 Queen Elizabeth in Botswana – Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Botswana, welcomed by tribal dancers and a 21-gun salute during her African tour ahead of the Commonwealth conference.
- Jul 27🌊 Navy Rescues Refugees – A U.S. Navy task force rescued 49 Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea, marking a significant humanitarian effort.
- Jul 28🚗 Japan Auto Exports Rise – Japan's motor vehicle exports increased to 381,650 units in June, marking a 5.3% rise from May and the first increase in 10 months.
- Jul 29🏛️ Historical Park Opens – The birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution is now a national park in Lowell, Massachusetts, preserving its rich history.
- Jul 30🌍 Wildlife Group Established – The World Wildlife Fund-U.S. has formed a new organization to monitor the importation of endangered species into the United States.
- Jul 31🌋 Tremors Shake Mount Etna – Thirteen tremors were recorded from Mount Etna, with explosions heard and smoke belching, but no damage reported.
Happy Birthday! 1979 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1979 in real headlines. See the 1979 book →
Born in July? Pick the day
Every birthday in July has its own On This Day in Headlines book: