What happened in May 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1985, 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🌌 Shuttle Crew Sees Auroras – The Challenger's crew witnessed spectacular auroras, marking a significant moment in space exploration.
- May 2🌳 Nepal Nurtures Trees – Nepal is adopting new strategies to combat environmental destruction, aiming to prevent its hills and forests from becoming barren.
- May 3🌍 New Vaccine Developed – An experimental vaccine has been developed that protects mice against recurrent herpes virus infections, scientists report.
- May 4🚀 Space Shuttle Data – The Space Shuttle Challenger collected data on cosmic radiation, contributing to understanding distant cosmic phenomena.
- May 5🌍 Economic Summit Concludes – Leaders of seven major industrial nations concluded an economic summit in Bonn, discussing global recovery and challenges ahead.
- May 6🏁 Elliott Wins Fastest 500 – Bill Elliott won the Winston 500, achieving the fastest average speed for 500 miles in auto racing history.
- May 7🌌 Halley's Comet Record – Scientists confirm that Halley's Comet was observed by Babylonians in 164 B.C., based on ancient clay tablets found in the British Museum.
- May 8🎭 Black Performers' Group – The Afro-American Association of Performing Artists is formed to support black theatrical history and artists, filling a gap left by the Negro Actors Guild.
- May 9🎭 Broadway Musical 'Chess' – 'Chess', a musical based on a record album, is set to be produced, reflecting a new pop-rock style in theater.
- May 10🚀 Japan Joins Space Station – The U.S. and Japan signed an agreement for cooperation in designing a space station, marking a significant step in international space collaboration.
- May 11🏛️ Holocaust Museum Plans – The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council unveiled plans for a $30 million museum to document the atrocities of Nazi Germany.
- May 12🏃 Lewis Runs 100 Meters – Carl Lewis won the 100-meter dash in 9.98 seconds at the Modesto Invitational, marking his second-best legal time.
- May 13🎨 Sculpture Census Launched – The National Museum of American Art begins a census to document every piece of sculpture in the U.S., expanding its historical art index.
- May 14🎤 Stevie Wonder at UN – Stevie Wonder performed at the UN, transforming the assembly hall into a lively concert, receiving standing ovations from attendees.
- May 15🦋 Butterfly Is Safe – Court rules endangered butterfly not harmed by housing construction on San Francisco Peninsula.
- May 16🌍 Cholera Outbreak Contained – A French doctors' group reported success in containing a cholera outbreak in Ethiopia.
- May 17🏦 Bank Change Approved – The Comptroller of the Currency approved a telecommunications company's purchase of a Florida bank, despite a court order against new charters.
- May 18💥 Coal Mine Explosion – An explosion in a Japanese coal mine killed 62 workers, with rescue teams recovering all bodies, according to police reports.
- May 19🌋 Mount St. Helens Quakes – Mount St. Helens experienced small earthquakes and gas emissions as residents held a parade to commemorate the volcano's eruption anniversary.
- May 20🗽 Statue Restoration Update – The French company restoring the Statue of Liberty's torch faces challenges replicating the original balcony railing.
- May 21🔬 Improved Red Crystals – A ruby-red crystal grown aboard space shuttle Challenger shows fewer imperfections, promising advancements in radiation detection.
- May 22🔬 Genetically Engineered Drug – Cetus Corporation received a patent for a new genetically engineered drug that may provide treatment for various cancers and diseases.
- May 23🏛️ Nuclear Plant Tests – The Wolf Creek nuclear power plant began its first self-sustained nuclear reaction, marking a key step before commercial operations in September.
- May 24🌋 Mount St. Helens Eruption – Seismic activity beneath Mount St. Helens increased, indicating a potential explosive eruption in southwest Washington.
- May 25🖼️ 50 Rembrandt Works Display – Fifty Rembrandt drawings, some unseen for 100 years, will be displayed at the Rijksmuseum next month.
- May 26🌋 Eruption Expected Soon – Scientists predict a potentially explosive eruption of Mount St. Helens by Memorial Day as volcanic activity increases.
- May 27🌋 Mount St. Helens Update – Mount St. Helens' lava dome continues to emit heat, with scientists noting no significant growth overnight, indicating a possible eruption soon.
- May 28🌍 Earthquakes at Mount St. Helens – Scientists measured ongoing earthquakes inside Mount St. Helens as they assessed the potential for an explosive eruption.
- May 29🔬 Day Care Study Released – A study shows children in organized day-care centers develop better social and educational skills than those cared for at home.
- May 30🌋 Mt. St. Helens Alert – A storm obscured Mount St. Helens, hindering geologists from observing signs of an impending eruption as alerts continued for the volcano.
- May 31🌋 Signs of Eruption – Scientists observed fresh molten rock in Mount St. Helens' crater, indicating that the volcano has begun to erupt.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →