What happened in August 1981?
The top front-page story of each day in August 1981, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Aug 1🏗️ Westway Project Agreement – An agreement was reached on the Westway Project, a major highway plan in New York, expected to take 10 years for completion.
- Aug 2🌊 Bacteria Sustain Giant Worms – Giant oceanic worms discovered near Pacific hot springs use bacteria for food and energy, recognized as a new family of the animal kingdom.
- Aug 3📈 Burroughs-Memorex Merger – Burroughs Corporation agreed to acquire Memorex for $106 million, marking a significant merger in the tech industry.
- Aug 4🔬 Landslide in India – A landslide triggered by heavy rains killed at least 12 people in southeast India, worsening the monsoon's toll.
- Aug 5📈 Stock Market Focus – Energy issues dominated as the Dow slipped 0.28 to 945.97, with a late rally nearly stabilizing prices amid tax-cut bill approval.
- Aug 6🏛️ Pope's Surgery Successful – Pope John Paul II underwent successful surgery to restore intestinal function, expected to leave hospital in about 10 days.
- Aug 7🌍 Japan Solar Power Unit – Japan's Electric Power Development Company generates 1,000 kilowatts of electricity from a solar energy power plant for the first time.
- Aug 8🌍 Reagan's Economic Goals – The Reagan Administration aims to reform the economy and confront Soviet actions, but faces challenges in allied contributions.
- Aug 9🔬 Ancient Ice Secrets – Scientists analyze ancient ice cores to uncover climate history, revealing insights into prehistoric weather patterns.
- Aug 10🏌️ Stacy Wins Playoff – Hollis Stacy shot a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the West Virginia Classic after a five-way tie.
- Aug 11📉 Interest Rates Decline – Interest rates for Treasury bills fell sharply, with six-month yields dropping to 15.12%, down from near-record highs.
- Aug 12🌍 Team Reaches Bottom Of Greenland Ice Sheet – An international team of scientists has reached the bottom of Greenland's ice sheet at 6,683 feet, marking a significant scientific achievement.
- Aug 13🌍 Mitterrand Frees Mothers – President Francois Mitterrand ordered the release of 21 jailed mothers, part of a broader clemency initiative reducing France's prison population significantly.
- Aug 14🚇 Mitsubishi-Mexico Deal – Mitsubishi Electric secures a $200 million order for Mexico City's subway expansion, with equipment sourced from Japan and local manufacturing.
- Aug 15🕊️ Pope Released From Hospital – Pope John Paul II walked out of the hospital today, three months after surviving an assassination attempt.
- Aug 16🔬 Javelin Record Broken – Antoaneta Todorova of Bulgaria set a world record in the women's javelin with a throw of 235 feet 10 inches at the European Track and Field Cup finals.
- Aug 17🐶 Human-Animal Bond Conference – An international conference on the human-companion animal bond will be held at the University of Pennsylvania in October.
- Aug 18🌍 Solar Energy Revolution – President Reagan's budget cuts and policy changes are set to revolutionize the solar energy industry in the U.S.
- Aug 19🛠️ Nuclear Fuel Plant Approved – Japan's Atomic Energy Commission approved plans for its first uranium-enrichment plant, set to partially operate by 1986.
- Aug 20🏅 Coe Sets Mile Record – Sebastian Coe of Britain set a world record for the mile with a time of 3:48.53 at an invitation track meet in Zurich.
- Aug 21🌍 Global Cotton Consumption – Worldwide cotton consumption is expected to hit a record 67.5 million bales this season, up from 65.9 million last year.
- Aug 22🚀 Voyager 2 Sends Photos – Voyager 2 returns stunning images of Saturn's atmosphere, revealing unprecedented features like a jet stream and storm clouds.
- Aug 23🌍 Whales Die in South Africa – Fifty-seven whales were found dead on a beach in South Africa, raising concerns about environmental factors affecting marine life.
- Aug 24🌪️ Typhoon Devastates Japan – A typhoon struck central and northern Japan, resulting in at least 14 deaths and 19 missing, causing widespread destruction.
- Aug 25🔭 Voyager 2 Moon Discovery – Voyager 2 discovers Saturn's moon Hyperion, revealing its irregular shape resembling various objects.
- Aug 26🚀 Voyager Nears Saturn – Voyager 2 successfully approached Saturn, sending back stunning data and images of the planet and its moons.
- Aug 27🏅 Ovett Sets Mile Record – Steve Ovett of Britain set a new world record for the mile run at 3:48.40, surpassing the previous record just a week after it was set.
- Aug 28🌍 Spain Urged for NATO – Spain's Advisory Council unanimously recommended joining NATO, with parliamentary approval expected soon.
- Aug 29🚀 NASA Shuttle Delay – NASA has postponed the launch of the space shuttle Columbia to October 9, pushing back the original date of September 30.
- Aug 30🔬 Voyager 2 Reaches Saturn – Voyager 2 completed its 1.24 billion-mile journey to Saturn, revealing the largest crater in the moon system, a 250-mile wide rift on Tethys.
- Aug 31🔬 Voyager Finds Saturn's Charges – Voyager 2 scientists reported discovering electrical discharges from one of Saturn's major rings, resembling lightning.
Happy Birthday! 1981 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1981 in real headlines. See the 1981 book →
Born in August? Pick the day
Every birthday in August has its own On This Day in Headlines book: