What happened in March 1996?
The top front-page story of each day in March 1996, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Mar 1🔬 Speed Record Achieved – Researchers have successfully transmitted information at a groundbreaking rate of one trillion bits per second through optical fiber.
- Mar 2🛰️ Satellite Dies Out – A runaway satellite that broke away from the shuttle Columbia fell silent today, becoming another piece of space junk after its batteries died.
- Mar 3🌍 Dams Alter Earth's Orbit – New research shows that the construction of dams worldwide is affecting Earth's orbital rotation due to increased water reservoirs.
- Mar 4🌍 Australia Proposes Nuclear Treaty – Australia pushes for a compromise text to finalize a treaty banning nuclear testing worldwide at the Conference on Disarmament.
- Mar 5🌌 Age of Universe Settled – Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope confirm the universe is at least 15 billion years old, resolving long-standing debates.
- Mar 6🔬 Advances in Genetics – New genetic research is transforming biology education, moving beyond traditional topics to focus on human traits and modern applications.
- Mar 7🌍 Swiss Drug Giants Merge – Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy, two Swiss pharmaceutical companies, announced a surprise merger, creating the world's second-largest drug maker.
- Mar 8🔬 Hubble Views Pluto – Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope captured the first glimpses of Pluto's icy surface, revealing new details about the distant planet.
- Mar 9🏥 Epidemics in Nigeria – Nearly 3,000 people, mostly children, have died from meningitis, cholera, and measles epidemics in northern Nigeria this year.
- Mar 10🚀 Shuttle Lands Safely – The space shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew returned to Earth, concluding a 16-day mission marked by a landing-system failure.
- Mar 11🏛️ Bicentennial of Library – New Jersey State Library celebrates its 200th anniversary, marking its origins with a collection of 35 books purchased in 1796.
- Mar 12🔬 New Diamond Coating Method – A lab accident led to a breakthrough in diamond coating technology, potentially valuable for hardening tools.
- Mar 13🌍 Record Ozone Depletion – The ozone layer was depleted by a record 45% this winter over an area from Greenland to western Siberia, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
- Mar 14📉 AIDS Settlement in Japan – Japan's Health Ministry and five drug firms reached a settlement for victims of contaminated blood products causing AIDS.
- Mar 15🧬 Einstein Manuscript Auction – A 1912 manuscript by Albert Einstein, detailing his theory of relativity, is expected to fetch $4-6 million at auction.
- Mar 16🌌 Bright Comet Discovered – Astronomers announced a newly discovered comet that may become the brightest seen in decades, captivating skywatchers worldwide.
- Mar 17🌍 U.N. Drives for Africa – The U.N. and partners aim to raise $25 billion over the next decade to combat poverty and spur development in Africa.
- Mar 18🔬 Meat Inspection Innovations – The U.S. meat inspection system is set for modernization, prompting technological innovations to combat contamination.
- Mar 19🌋 Volcanic Fury Rocks Pacific – A significant volcanic event was reported off the Pacific sea floor, highlighting the planet's dynamic geological processes.
- Mar 20🏟️ Cincinnati Tax Approved – Cincinnati voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase to fund two new stadiums in a $544 million project.
- Mar 21📜 Einstein Manuscript Donated – The earliest manuscript of Einstein's theory of relativity, unsold at auction, will be donated to an Israeli museum.
- Mar 22🔬 Cancer-Fighting Antibody Found – Scientists discovered an antibody that activates natural killer cells to combat tumors, potentially aiding cancer treatment.
- Mar 23🚀 Shuttle Blasts Off – The space shuttle Atlantis launched successfully, heading to link up with the Russian space station Mir in a significant mission.
- Mar 24☄️ Comet Hyakutake Approaches – Comet Hyakutake, the brightest comet in 20 years, reaches its closest approach to Earth, offering a rare viewing opportunity for astronomers.
- Mar 25🏛️ Hong Kong Legislature Change – A committee selected by China voted to replace Hong Kong's democratically elected legislature with an appointed council ahead of the 1997 handover.
- Mar 26🔬 Hydrogen Becomes Metal – Physicists at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory create a metallic form of hydrogen, challenging existing theories about giant planets.
- Mar 27🏞️ Artificial Flood Created – The Federal Government initiated a weeklong flood to rejuvenate the Grand Canyon, releasing water from a dam to restore the ecosystem.
- Mar 28🚀 Space Walkers Attach Debris – Astronauts on the Russian space station Mir attached debris catchers to collect cosmic grit during a spacewalk.
- Mar 29🔬 New Stroke Drug Found – Researchers discovered an experimental drug that protects stroke victims from severe brain damage, potentially benefiting many patients.
- Mar 30🔬 Waters Acquires TA Instruments – Waters Corporation has agreed to buy TA Instruments for $84 million, enhancing its analytical instrument offerings.
- Mar 31🏅 Olympic Torch Relay – The 1996 Summer Olympics torch relay began, with Hillary Rodham Clinton urging nations to find peace through sport.
Happy Birthday! 1996 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1996 in real headlines. See the 1996 book →
Born in March? Pick the day
Every birthday in March has its own On This Day in Headlines book: