What happened in October 1985?
The top front-page story of each day in October 1985, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Oct 1🚀 Atlantis Launch Secrecy – The space shuttle Atlantis is set for its first flight, with the mission wrapped in secrecy from start to finish.
- Oct 2🌍 Mexico Earthquake Toll – Official death toll from the recent earthquakes in Mexico rises to 5,526 as rescue operations conclude.
- Oct 3🏛️ Restoring Versailles Splendor – Seven years of restoration work at the chateau of Versailles has revived the splendor of 50 rooms, including Marie Antoinette's dressing room.
- Oct 4🔬 Three Mile Island Reactor Restarted – After 6.5 years since the worst nuclear accident, the undamaged Unit 1 reactor at Three Mile Island was restarted today.
- Oct 5⚡ Power Restoration Progress – Utilities report that nearly all Connecticut customers affected by Hurricane Gloria will have power restored by tonight.
- Oct 6🔬 Alzheimer's Center Opens – New Jersey opened its first Alzheimer's diagnostic and resource center at Rutgers Medical School to improve services for 200,000 affected residents.
- Oct 7🏆 Prost Takes Title – Alain Prost secured the 1985 world driving championship with a fourth-place finish at the European Grand Prix.
- Oct 8🔬 Smaller Artificial Heart – Researchers at the University of Utah start a study on a new artificial heart design, smaller than the Jarvik-7, for animals weighing 110 pounds.
- Oct 9🌍 Strawberry Fields Opens – Yoko Ono's 'International Garden of Peace' in Central Park, honoring John Lennon, officially opens today after a lengthy construction process.
- Oct 10🌪️ Hurricane Waldo Strikes – Hurricane Waldo hit Mexico's northwestern coast, displacing 10,000 people and causing significant damage.
- Oct 11🔬 Genetic Marker Found – Scientists report discovering the first genetic marker for cystic fibrosis, a hereditary disease affecting many.
- Oct 12🛳️ Achille Lauro Hijacking – The U.S. forced an Egyptian airliner to land, capturing four Palestinian hijackers from the Achille Lauro cruise ship incident.
- Oct 13🎶 Operatic Glories Released – The Metropolitan Opera celebrates its centennial with a historical audio compilation, showcasing a century of great performances.
- Oct 14🔬 Energy Breakthrough Achieved – Physicists activated the world's largest atom-smasher, achieving energy levels three times higher than before, advancing high-energy physics.
- Oct 15🔬 Atom Collider Activated – The world's most powerful atom-smasher began operations at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, achieving unprecedented energy levels.
- Oct 16🌍 UN Commemorates Independence – The UN marks the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on Independence for Colonial Countries, focusing on decolonization efforts.
- Oct 17🌍 Soviet Earthquake Displaces Thousands – At least 8,000 people were left homeless by a recent earthquake in the Soviet Central Asian republic of Tadzhikistan.
- Oct 18🌍 Nobel Prize Winner – Claude Simon, a prominent French author known for his contributions to the nouveau roman, wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- Oct 19❤️ New Artificial Heart – Surgeons implanted a new type of temporary artificial heart in a dying Philadelphia man, marking a significant medical advancement.
- Oct 20🔬 Global Vaccination Goal – Health officials predict almost every child on Earth will be vaccinated against six diseases by 1990, marking a significant public health milestone.
- Oct 21🏞️ Canoe Adventure Documentary – A documentary showcases white-water canoeing in the Himalayas, highlighting the beauty and challenges faced by paddlers.
- Oct 22📉 Macy Bid Lifts Retail – R.H. Macy & Company announced a $3.6 billion buyout offer, boosting retail stocks significantly in the market.
- Oct 23🌍 U.N. 40th Anniversary – World leaders gather in New York for the 40th anniversary of the United Nations, discussing international affairs and global cooperation.
- Oct 24🌍 United Nations Day – The United Nations celebrates its 40th anniversary with speeches and ceremonies, highlighting its global mission for peace and cooperation.
- Oct 25🌍 Women Protest in Iceland – Iceland's President joined tens of thousands of women in a 24-hour protest against male privilege, highlighting gender equality issues.
- Oct 26🔬 Microprocessor Introduced – National Semiconductor Corporation launched a new 32-bit microprocessor, boasting three times the speed of its predecessor.
- Oct 27🗿 Ayers Rock Returned – Australia's government returned Ayers Rock to aborigines, recognizing its cultural significance and sacredness.
- Oct 28🏙️ World Series Celebration – Pandemonium erupted across Kansas City as fans celebrated their hometown's first World Series championship.
- Oct 29🚀 Shuttle Flight Countdown – The space shuttle Challenger is set to launch a scientific mission carrying a laboratory with experiments from West German scientists.
- Oct 30🚢 Titanic Survivor Advocates – Louise Pope, a Titanic survivor, urged Congress to protect the historic wreck from commercial exploitation.
- Oct 31🚀 Biggest Shuttle Crew – The largest space shuttle crew, including five Americans and two West Germans, launched aboard Challenger for complex experiments.
Happy Birthday! 1985 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1985 in real headlines. See the 1985 book →
Born in October? Pick the day
Every birthday in October has its own On This Day in Headlines book: