What happened in January 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in January 1985, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jan 1🌌 Cosmic Powerhouse Seen – Astronomers have captured detailed images of a remarkable cosmic object, marking a significant achievement in astrophysics.
- Jan 2🏆 UCLA Wins Fiesta Bowl – U.C.L.A. secured a thrilling 39-37 victory over Miami with a last-minute field goal in the 14th Fiesta Bowl.
- Jan 3💻 China Deal For Burroughs – Burroughs Corporation signed a $20 million agreement to assemble desktop computers in southern China, enhancing international business ties.
- Jan 4🌍 10,000 Ethiopians Airlifted – Israel acknowledges airlifting over 10,000 Ethiopian Jews from drought-stricken regions to Israel in recent years.
- Jan 5🏛️ China to Rebuild Tombs – China announced plans to restore the tombs of 13 Ming dynasty emperors, aiming to develop the area into a major tourist destination.
- Jan 6🌍 Gandhi Appoints Panel – Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announced the formation of a special Cabinet group to address the separatist crisis in Punjab.
- Jan 7🕊️ Arms Control Talks – U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz presents reasonable positions for arms control negotiations with Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko.
- Jan 8🌌 Halley's Comet Approaches – Halley's comet will cross Jupiter's orbit on Thursday, becoming visible through telescopes later this fall.
- Jan 9🌍 New Fujitsu Supercomputer – Fujitsu Ltd. announced a supercomputer capable of one billion operations per second, making it the fastest in the world.
- Jan 10🕊️ Geneva Arms Talks – U.S. and Soviet negotiators agreed to resume arms control talks in Geneva, marking a hopeful step towards improved relations.
- Jan 11♟️ Karpov-Kasparov Draw – Anatoly Karpov escaped with a draw in the 40th game of his world chess championship match against Gary Kasparov in Moscow.
- Jan 12🌍 Cold Wave Kills 65 – A cold wave in France has led to 65 deaths, with forecasts predicting worsening conditions over the weekend.
- Jan 13🐼 46 Species Endangered – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added 46 species, including the giant panda, to the endangered list, highlighting conservation efforts.
- Jan 14🏌️ Wadkins Wins Classic – Lanny Wadkins charged back to win the Bob Hope Classic, birdying the fifth hole of a playoff to claim the $90,000 prize.
- Jan 15🔬 New Tool Captures Cells – Scientists use a new technique called contact X-ray microscopy to capture detailed images of living human cells.
- Jan 16🗳️ Bangladesh Sets Election – Bangladesh's leader, Gen. H. M. Ershad, dissolved the cabinet and announced parliamentary elections for April 6, the first in six years.
- Jan 17🚀 West Germany Supports Space – West Germany agrees to contribute $900 million to a US project for a manned space station in the 1990s.
- Jan 18🏗️ Cinematheque Planned – Plans announced for the American Cinematheque, a cultural center for film and video arts in Los Angeles, enhancing the city's cultural landscape.
- Jan 19🏟️ Blue Jays' Stadium Plans – Ontario Premier Bill Davis announced plans for a $150 million retractable roof stadium for the Blue Jays, aiming for completion by 1988.
- Jan 20🇺🇸 Reagan's Inauguration Day – Ronald Reagan is sworn in for his second term as President of the United States during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
- Jan 21🏈 49ers Win Super Bowl – The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX, marking a historic victory watched by millions worldwide.
- Jan 22🏔️ Math Technique Breakthrough – A new mathematical technique allows computers to accurately depict complex natural phenomena like clouds and mountains.
- Jan 23🐟 Thais to Free Fish – The Thai Government invites citizens to release 9,999,999 fish to aid Queen Sirikit's recovery, as part of a traditional belief in casting off misfortune.
- Jan 24🚀 Shuttle Prepared for Liftoff – Technicians resumed preparations for the space shuttle Discovery's launch on a secret mission carrying an intelligence-gathering satellite.
- Jan 25🎨 Artistic Dance Premiere – Jean-Claude Gallotta's dance-theater piece 'The Adventures of Ivan Vaffan' premiered, offering an enjoyable experience at City Center.
- Jan 26🔬 New Vaccine Reported – A vaccine awaiting approval could protect thousands of children from a bacterial illness causing serious meningitis.
- Jan 27🏆 Philippine Floods Kill 43 – Floods caused by a waterspout hit 11 villages on Negros island, resulting in 43 deaths and over 400 displaced residents.
- Jan 28🕊️ Pope Masses for Millions – Pope John Paul II continued his Venezuela tour, celebrating masses attended by over a million people in Caracas.
- Jan 29🌌 Halley's Comet Observed – Astronomers made the first infrared observations of Halley's Comet, estimating its nucleus radius to be four miles.
- Jan 30🌍 Gandhi Party Wins – Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's Congress Party won a parliamentary seat in Bhopal, site of a recent gas leak disaster, but lost three other elections.
- Jan 31🎥 China Plans Film City – China announces plans to build a $70 million film city in Xian, aiming to create its own Hollywood.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →
Born in January? Pick the day
Every birthday in January has its own On This Day in Headlines book: