What happened in January 1987?
The top front-page story of each day in January 1987, 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🔥 Hotel Fire Disaster – Dozens died and many were injured in a devastating fire at a beachfront hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Jan 2🎆 Salute to Constitution – Fireworks lit up Philadelphia's waterfront, marking the start of a yearlong celebration for the U.S. Constitution's bicentennial.
- Jan 3🔥 Dupont Plaza Fire Toll – The death toll in the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire reached 95 as recovery efforts continued in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Jan 4🌍 Constitution Celebration – The U.S. begins a yearlong celebration of the Constitution's 200th anniversary, examining its impact on the political system.
- Jan 5⚽ Pele Returns to Field – Pele dazzles fans in his first soccer match since retirement, showcasing his legendary skills and reminding all of his greatness.
- Jan 6🔬 New Medical Scalpel – Physicists have developed a new ion beam scalpel for treating brain tumors, offering a gentler alternative to traditional surgical methods.
- Jan 7🌌 Galaxy Birth Observed – Astronomers believe they have witnessed the birth of a giant galaxy, detecting evidence of a billion suns igniting within a massive gas cloud.
- Jan 8🔬 Superconductive Alloy Breakthrough – Chinese scientists reported a superconductive alloy that could revolutionize the electrical industry, losing all resistance at high temperatures.
- Jan 9📈 Dow Tops 2,000 – The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 2,000 for the first time, marking a significant milestone in stock market history.
- Jan 10🔬 Drug Halts AIDS Infection – A study shows ribavirin may stop the progression of early AIDS-related infections, offering hope for treatment.
- Jan 11🏛️ Pope Condemns Arms Race – Pope John Paul II condemned the arms race as a cause of friction between rich and poor nations, urging reductions in weapon stockpiles.
- Jan 12🏈 Giants Reach Super Bowl – The New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 17-0, securing their first Super Bowl appearance against the Denver Broncos.
- Jan 13🔬 Scientists Transplant Genes – Scientists successfully used genetic engineering to transplant foreign genes into maize cells and grew rice plants from modified single cells.
- Jan 14🔬 Rare Radioactivity Finding – Experiments in a South Dakota gold mine suggest a rare radioactive decay that could challenge fundamental physics laws.
- Jan 15🏛️ 20th-Century Art Show – The Royal Academy of Arts opens 'British Art in the 20th Century' exhibition, exploring significant art movements and their impact.
- Jan 16⛵ Kookaburra III Leads – Iain Murray's Kookaburra III team overcame gear failure to win the America's Cup defense finals against Australia IV by 1 minute 34 seconds.
- Jan 17✈️ Air Safety Urged – A midair collision near Salt Lake City has intensified calls for faster implementation of air safety measures and equipment upgrades.
- Jan 18⚓ 50 Die in Boat Sinking – A boat carrying participants in a Roman Catholic festival sank near a Philippine island, resulting in at least 50 fatalities.
- Jan 19🔬 Major Folk Art Acquisition – The National Museum of American Art has acquired a significant collection of American folk art valued at several million dollars.
- Jan 20🔬 Search for Antimatter – Scientists are beginning to collect antimatter in small amounts, sparking excitement about its nature and potential applications.
- Jan 21🔬 New Superconductivity Breakthrough – Recent discoveries in superconductivity could save billions in the electrical industry and lead to new electronic devices.
- Jan 22🌋 Monitoring Volcano Activity – Experts discuss the rapid lava outpouring from Klyuchevskaya volcano in the Soviet Union, indicating significant geological activity.
- Jan 23🌍 Soviet Ends BBC Jamming – The Soviet Union announced it would stop jamming BBC broadcasts in Russian, marking a significant shift in media policy.
- Jan 24🌍 Philippines Debt Rescheduled – Western creditor nations agreed to reschedule $870 million of the Philippines' foreign debt, supporting President Corazon Aquino amid a domestic crisis.
- Jan 25🏈 Super Bowl XXI – The Giants and Broncos face off in Super Bowl XXI at the Rose Bowl, with millions expected to watch and bet on the outcome.
- Jan 26🏆 Giants Win Super Bowl – The New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI, marking their first championship victory.
- Jan 27🔬 Antibodies Redesigned – Antibodies, the body's defenders against disease, are being repurposed for new roles in medicine and biological research.
- Jan 28🔬 NASA Faces Decisions – One year after the Challenger disaster, NASA confronts critical choices about the shuttle program's future and its broader goals.
- Jan 29🌍 Zaire Supports AIDS Vaccine – Zaire backs an experimental AIDS immunization project led by French and Zairian scientists, marking a significant step in global health research.
- Jan 30🌍 GATT Trade Round Agreement – Nearly 100 nations agreed to start trade negotiations next month, following a compromise between the U.S. and France on agricultural priorities.
- Jan 31🏛️ Restoring Angkor Wat – Indian archeologists begin a six-year project to restore Angkor Wat, Cambodia's ancient capital, using chemical cleaners and preservatives.
Happy Birthday! 1987 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1987 in real headlines. See the 1987 book →
Born in January? Pick the day
Every birthday in January has its own On This Day in Headlines book: