What happened in May 1979?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1979, 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🔬 Diversity in Nature – Nature exhibits unmatched geometric diversity, from unique snowflakes to various sea creatures and viruses, showcasing infinite forms.
- May 2🔬 Plum Island Discovery – Researchers at Plum Island have developed antiserums for Rift Valley fever, a disease of significant concern for public health.
- May 3🌍 Landslide in Indonesia – A landslide on Merapi volcano in Indonesia killed 82 people, with 19 still missing, according to local officials.
- May 4🏛️ Thatcher Wins Election – Margaret Thatcher leads the Conservative Party to a decisive victory in Britain's general election, becoming the first woman to head a European government.
- May 5🌍 Thatcher Becomes Prime Minister – Margaret Thatcher officially took office as the Prime Minister of Britain, marking a historic moment as the first woman to lead a major Western government.
- May 6🏇 Spectacular Bid Wins – Spectacular Bid, guided by Ron Franklin, wins the 105th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs by 2¾ lengths.
- May 7🔬 Heart Transplant Success – Seventy percent of heart transplant recipients survive at least one year, marking a significant medical advancement.
- May 8🌊 Sea-Floor Geysers Discovered – Scientists witnessed underwater eruptions from geysers on the East Pacific Rise, revealing extreme temperatures and potential mineral deposits.
- May 9🌍 U.S.-China Science Accords – The United States and China signed four agreements on science and technology, enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
- May 10🌍 Big French Loan Pact – French banks signed a $7 billion loan agreement with China, marking the largest foreign loan accord in China's history.
- May 11🎶 Satie's Work Staged – Paris hosts a unique performance of the entire oeuvre of composer Erik Satie, featuring two six-hour-long evenings through May 16.
- May 12⚽ English Cup Tickets Soar – Tickets for the English Cup final between Manchester United and Arsenal are being scalped for up to $600, far exceeding the normal price.
- May 13🏟️ Arsenal Wins Cup – Arsenal edged Manchester United 3-2 in the English Cup final at Wembley Stadium before nearly 100,000 fans.
- May 14🚀 Space Shuttle Engine Tested – NASA successfully tested the first main rocket engine for the space shuttle Columbia, marking a significant step toward its launch.
- May 15🌪️ Storm Kills 52 in India – A hurricane and floods in southeastern India have resulted in at least 52 deaths and significant damage to 160,000 homes in Andhra Pradesh.
- May 16🚀 Soviet Supplies Reach Space Lab – The Soviet Progress 6 cargo capsule successfully docked with the Salyut 6 space laboratory, delivering vital supplies to astronauts.
- May 17🏛️ Supreme Court Landmark – The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, 25 years ago, transformed American education by declaring school segregation unconstitutional.
- May 18🔬 Three Mile Island Inquiry – The Presidential commission investigating the Three Mile Island nuclear accident halted its inquiry due to a dispute over subpoena power.
- May 19🌍 Vietnam Joins Space Flight – Vietnamese astronaut trainees prepare for a flight under the Soviet Intercosmos space project, marking a significant collaboration in space exploration.
- May 20🏇 Spectacular Bid Wins – Spectacular Bid captures the Preakness Stakes, moving closer to the Triple Crown with a record time before 72,607 spectators.
- May 21🎈 Balloonists Race Charity – Hot-air balloonists raised over $3,000 for students with cerebral palsy during a colorful race in New Jersey.
- May 22🔬 Study Alters Gene Structure – New discoveries reveal that the structure of animal genes, including humans, is far more complex than previously believed.
- May 23🏛️ Canada's Conservatives Win – Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau conceded defeat as Joe Clark's Progressive Conservative Party won a plurality in the Canadian election.
- May 24⛽ Natural Gas Find Off Jersey – Tenneco Inc. announced a new natural gas discovery off New Jersey, reviving hopes for future fuel supplies in the Northeast.
- May 25🎉 Tate Gallery Opens – The Tate Gallery in London opened its new extension with a grand celebration, featuring fireworks and a gathering of notable guests.
- May 26✈️ Worst Air Disaster – An American Airlines jetliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago, killing all 272 aboard, marking the worst disaster in U.S. aviation history.
- May 27🌍 Viking Mint Found – Archeologists discovered a 10th-century Viking mint in York, England, providing proof of early coin production in Britain.
- May 28🕊️ Holocaust Monument Unveiled – A bronze monument dedicated to the Holocaust by Arbit Blatas will be inaugurated in Venice's Campo del Nuovo Ghetto in September.
- May 29🌍 Greece Joins Common Market – Greece officially became the 10th member of the Common Market, signing documents in a ceremony near the Acropolis.
- May 30🗺️ Venus Probe Discoveries – An American spacecraft discovered a mountain range higher than Everest and a vast plateau on Venus, revealing significant geological features.
- May 31🔬 Doctors Separate Twins – Surgeons in Utah successfully separated Siamese twins Lisa and Elisa Hansen in a 16½-hour operation, severing a small connection between their brains.
Happy Birthday! 1979 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1979 in real headlines. See the 1979 book →