What happened in February 1981?
The top front-page story of each day in February 1981, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Feb 1🔬 Electric Car Development – The electric car is being reconsidered as a viable alternative to internal combustion engines amid gasoline concerns.
- Feb 2🌍 Central African Vote – The people of the Central African Republic voted on a proposed new constitution aimed at restoring democracy in the nation.
- Feb 3💖 Artificial Heart Trials – After decades of work, artificial hearts are ready for human trials, marking a significant advancement in medical technology.
- Feb 4🌊 Diver Team Sets Record – A team of divers at Duke University broke the world record for a simulated dive, surviving pressure equal to 2,250 feet underwater.
- Feb 5🖼️ Sculpture '81 Exhibition – An exhibition showcasing the diversity of styles among black sculptors will open on February 18 at Lever House.
- Feb 6🧠 Surgery for Stroke Blockage – A neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins performed the first successful operation to remove arterial blockage in the brain, a major stroke cause.
- Feb 7🔬 Nancy Reagan Honored – Nancy Reagan accepted the honorary chairmanship of the Wolf Trap Foundation's board of directors, recognizing her contributions to the arts.
- Feb 8🌋 Volcano's Lava Dome Grows – Mount St. Helens' lava dome has doubled in size due to a nonexplosive eruption, reaching about 600 feet in height, prompting continued monitoring.
- Feb 9📻 African Radio Starts Broadcasts – Africa No. 1, the continent's most powerful radio station, began broadcasting with support from France, airing 18 hours daily.
- Feb 10🔬 Research on Gravity – Scientists worldwide intensify efforts to understand gravity, exploring its nature and potential wave-like properties.
- Feb 11🌍 World Bank-Mexico Pact – The World Bank will lend Mexico $280 million for agricultural development, part of a $795 million government project.
- Feb 12💧 New Water Ethic – Drought leads to a new perception of water as a precious resource, prompting conservation measures and family rules on usage.
- Feb 13🌋 Mount St. Helens Update – Threat of spring floods decreases at Mount St. Helens as specialists report diminished risks to surrounding areas.
- Feb 14❤️ Long-Lost Mozart Work – A childhood creation of Mozart has been found in Bavaria, set to premiere in May, 216 years after its composition.
- Feb 15🔬 Major Earthquake Strikes – The Pacific Northwest experienced its largest earthquake in 16 years, shaking areas from northern California to British Columbia.
- Feb 16🏆 Sjoebrend Captures Championship – Norwegian skaters dominated the men's speed skating world championships, with Sjoebrend taking the title after the defending champion fell.
- Feb 17🛢️ Guyana Oil Corporation – Guyana plans to establish a national petroleum corporation to oversee oil exploration, with promising prospects for commercial oil discovery.
- Feb 18📈 Reagan Proposes Budget Cuts – President Reagan plans to request over $41 billion in budget cuts as part of a major economic package including the largest tax cut in history.
- Feb 19🛩️ Space Shuttle Test Delayed – The countdown for a test firing of the space shuttle Columbia's main engines was extended by 24 hours due to delays in preparation.
- Feb 20🎨 Turner Exhibition Opens – The Yale Center for British Art presents 'Turner and the Sublime,' combining pleasure and instruction in art.
- Feb 21🚀 Space Shuttle Test – The main rocket engines of the space shuttle Columbia passed a crucial test, boosting confidence for an April launch.
- Feb 22🎨 Met Opera's 'Parade' – The Metropolitan Opera premiered a captivating triple bill, restoring faith in opera's future with a new production of 'Parade'.
- Feb 23🏛️ Soviet Party Convenes – Over 5,000 delegates gather in Moscow to confirm Leonid Brezhnev's leadership and approve the economic strategy for the 1980s.
- Feb 24🏃♀️ Women's Marathon Approved – The International Olympic Committee approved the inclusion of the women's marathon in the 1984 Olympic Games.
- Feb 25🌍 Strong Earthquake Strikes – A strong earthquake struck Athens and parts of southern Greece, resulting in at least eight fatalities and numerous injuries.
- Feb 26🌍 Greek Quake Casualties – A series of earthquakes in Greece resulted in 15 deaths and 53 injuries, causing damage to the Parthenon.
- Feb 27🔬 M.I.T. Skin Transplant – M.I.T. begins testing human skin transplantation produced in a test tube, potentially aiding burn victims.
- Feb 28🎓 Thatcher Receives Honorary Degree – Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at Georgetown University, recognizing her contributions to politics.
Happy Birthday! 1981 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1981 in real headlines. See the 1981 book →