What happened in May 1993?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1993, 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🏇 Kentucky Derby Preparations – Nineteen horses and trainers finalize preparations for the 119th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, with no clear favorite in the race.
- May 2🏇 Kentucky Derby Victory – Sea Hero wins the 119th Kentucky Derby, fulfilling the dream of his 85-year-old owner, Paul Mellon, who saved him from grass racing.
- May 3🌍 Kuwait's 120-Mile Ditch – Kuwait plans to dig a 120-mile ditch along its border with Iraq to prevent infiltration and renounce relations with Saddam Hussein's government.
- May 4🔬 Emerald Icebergs Mystery Solved – The mystery of rare emerald icebergs in Antarctica, long intriguing ship captains, has been explained by researchers.
- May 5🎓 Study Abroad Program – The U.S. launches a college student-exchange program with Europe to enhance study abroad opportunities for low-income students.
- May 6🔬 Cancer-Causing Gene Found – Scientists discovered a gene linked to major cancers, potentially altering cancer research direction and understanding.
- May 7🦖 Earliest Dinosaur Discovery – Researchers pinpoint the earliest known dinosaurs, dating them to 228 million years ago, marking a significant evolutionary milestone.
- May 8🏛️ New Italian Chief Wins Vote – Italy's new Prime Minister, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, secured a crucial parliamentary confidence vote endorsing his government's reform proposals.
- May 9🗳️ First Free Elections – Paraguay holds its first free presidential elections since independence in 1811, marking a significant political milestone.
- May 10🗳️ Paraguay's Election Sabotage – Acts of sabotage disrupted Paraguay's first free presidential election, undermining the opposition's efforts.
- May 11🌍 Cougars Save Panthers – Texas cougars are enlisted to help save the critically endangered Florida panther, roaming across two million acres to aid in conservation efforts.
- May 12🖼️ Cezanne Painting Record – Cezanne's 'Still Life With Apples' sold for $28.6 million at Sotheby's, setting a record for the artist.
- May 13🏒 Islanders Force Game Seven – The New York Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-5, forcing a decisive Game Seven in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
- May 14📈 Gold Prices Surge – Gold prices reached their highest levels since late 1991, driven by commodity market speculation and inflation concerns.
- May 15🌍 Ex-Soviet Nations Unite – Nine former Soviet republics, including Russia, signed a declaration to form an economic union to restore cohesion among their relationships.
- May 16🏛️ Moore Institute Opens – The new Henry Moore Institute opened in Leeds, England, promoting the study and appreciation of sculpture with galleries and educational facilities.
- May 17💻 Pentium Chips Debut – Intel's new Pentium microprocessor officially launches today, with over two dozen companies announcing products featuring the chip.
- May 18🔬 Treatment for Disease – Scientists injected genetically altered blood cells into two babies with defective immune systems to treat a fatal condition.
- May 19📜 Rita Dove Named Laureate – Rita Dove was appointed the nation's poet laureate, becoming the first Black and youngest person to hold the position.
- May 20🌏 China's Economy Rises – The IMF reports China's economy is now the world's third largest, significantly larger than previously estimated.
- May 21🔬 Flu Virus Mechanism Identified – Researchers identified a spring-like mechanism on flu viruses that plays a crucial role in their infection of human cells.
- May 22🧠 Mental Illness Defined – The U.S. government officially defined 'serious mental illness' to prepare for a national estimate of those affected.
- May 23🔬 Laser Surgery Advances – FDA approves Spectranetics' excimer laser angioplasty system for coronary arteries, enhancing heart surgery options.
- May 24🏀 Magic Snags No. 1 Pick – Pat Williams celebrated the Orlando Magic winning the NBA draft lottery, kissing a blue Ping-Pong ball on stage in excitement.
- May 25🎬 Cannes Film Festival Prize – The Palme d'Or at the 46th Cannes Film Festival was shared between "The Piano" and "Farewell to My Concubine."
- May 26🔭 Hubble Galaxy Collision – Hubble Space Telescope reveals stunning results from a galaxy collision, showcasing a rotating disk of gas and clusters of young stars.
- May 27🛰️ Solar System Boundary Found – Two American spacecraft discovered strong evidence of the solar system's boundary, marking where solar wind ends and interstellar space begins.
- May 28🏁 Indianapolis 500 Practice – Drivers completed final practice laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, hinting at a potentially unpredictable race ahead.
- May 29💰 Clinton Budget Passed – President Clinton's economic package narrowly passed the House, raising taxes and cutting spending to address the deficit.
- May 30🚄 Paris to Lille Faster – A new high-speed rail line in France cuts travel time from Paris to Lille to 80 minutes, enhancing connectivity ahead of Channel Tunnel service.
- May 31🏆 Fittipaldi Wins Indy 500 – Emerson Fittipaldi claimed victory at the Indianapolis 500, showcasing smart and aggressive driving in a highly competitive race.
Happy Birthday! 1993 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1993 in real headlines. See the 1993 book →