What happened in September 1982?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1982, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Sep 1🦴 Fossil Discovery – Paleontologists unearthed a jawbone in Kenya, believed to be 8 million years old, potentially filling a major gap in human evolution.
- Sep 2🏛️ Ancient Greek Theater Found – Archeologists announced the discovery of the theater where King Philip II of Macedonia was assassinated in 336 B.C.
- Sep 3🏛️ Queen to Visit Jamaica – Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip will visit Jamaica from February 13-16, marking their first visit since 1975.
- Sep 4🏛️ 300,000 Rally for Leader – President Jose Lopez Portillo received support from 300,000 workers and peasants for his nationalization of private banks.
- Sep 5🐼 Twin Pandas Born – Shao-Shao, a giant panda, gave birth to the first panda twins in captivity in the Western Hemisphere at Madrid Zoo, both in perfect health.
- Sep 6🏛️ Mexico Fixes Peso Rate – Mexico announced major monetary reforms, including a dual exchange rate for the peso, effective today as nationalized banks reopen.
- Sep 7🐼 Spain's Twin Pandas Thrive – Shao Shao the panda and her twin cubs are progressing well, with all expected to survive, according to the Madrid zoo's technical director.
- Sep 8🏗️ Boeing 767 Debuts – Boeing's 767 makes its first commercial flight, marking a significant moment in aviation despite industry challenges.
- Sep 9⛪ Lutheran Merger Approved – Three Lutheran denominations voted to merge, creating a new church with 5.5 million members, becoming the third largest Protestant denomination.
- Sep 10🚀 Commercial Space Launch – A private corporation launched a spacecraft from surplus rocket parts, marking a new era in commercial space technology.
- Sep 11🏅 Lake Placid Training Site – Lake Placid is approved as a second national training center for winter sports by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
- Sep 12🏛️ Pope Meets Arafat – Pope John Paul II is set to meet Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, next week, confirming the Vatican's diplomatic engagement.
- Sep 13🌪️ Typhoon Devastates Japan – A typhoon tore through central Japan, causing flooding and landslides that left thousands homeless and dozens dead or injured.
- Sep 14🌪️ Japan's Typhoon Devastation – Japan's third typhoon this season leaves 26 dead and tens of thousands homeless, causing widespread flooding.
- Sep 15👑 Princess Grace Dies – Princess Grace of Monaco died from injuries after a car crash in Monte Carlo. She was 52 years old and a former Hollywood star.
- Sep 16📈 Dow Hits 13-Month High – The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 930.46, marking its highest level in over a year due to a late rally.
- Sep 17🔬 Solar Hydrogen Breakthrough – Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a method to extract hydrogen from water using solar energy, promising a sustainable energy source.
- Sep 18🌍 Hurricane Debby Approaches – Hurricane Debby brushed past Bermuda with 100 mph winds, causing damage before moving into cooler waters.
- Sep 19🌋 Indonesian Volcano Erupts – The Soputan volcano on Celebes erupted again, marking its third eruption in three weeks. About 1,000 people have been evacuated since the eruptions began.
- Sep 20🎨 Stravinsky Manuscript Auction – The first draft of Stravinsky's ballet score for 'The Rite of Spring' is set to be sold at auction, highlighting its historical significance.
- Sep 21🌍 Life Beneath Earth – Scientists discovered living organisms deep in soil zones previously thought lifeless, expanding understanding of life's limits.
- Sep 22🌍 California Fruit Fly Victory – California officials celebrated the end of a two-year, $96 million effort to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly, protecting the state's agriculture.
- Sep 23🏗️ Excavation for Reactor – Site clearing and excavation for the Clinch River breeder reactor at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has begun, announced the Department of Energy.
- Sep 24🌧️ Flood Toll Rises – Death toll from flooding and mudslides in El Salvador and Guatemala surpasses 1,200 as rescue teams reach isolated areas.
- Sep 25🌍 U.S. and Zimbabwe Agreement – The U.S. and Zimbabwe signed agreements worth $7.4 million for family planning and sugar refining projects.
- Sep 26🚢 Thatcher Launches Ship – Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher named a ship for a Hong Kong millionaire in a Chinese shipyard, symbolizing ties between China, Britain, and Hong Kong.
- Sep 27🏛️ Javelin Mark Set – Sofia Sakorafa of Greece set a world record in the women's javelin with a throw of 243 feet 5 inches at the Greek championships.
- Sep 28🔬 Lights on Seventh Planet – Astrophysicists discovered an aurora on Uranus, similar to Earth's northern lights, indicating a strong magnetic field around the planet.
- Sep 29🚂 Toxic Train Derailment – A freight train carrying explosive chemicals derailed, causing fires and forcing the evacuation of 2,000 residents within five miles.
- Sep 30🌍 Nuclear Power Plant – China has begun construction of its first nuclear power station, set to operate by 1988, near Shanghai with a budget of $290 million.
Happy Birthday! 1982 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1982 in real headlines. See the 1982 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: