What happened in May 1996?
The top front-page story of each day in May 1996, 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🔬 Shark Substance Discovery – Researchers found a novel substance in sharks that controls brain tumor growth in rats, potentially leading to new cancer treatments.
- May 2🔬 Research Adds 100,000 Years – Scientists reveal Peking Man fossils are at least 100,000 years older than previously believed, shedding light on human evolution in Asia.
- May 3🏦 Orange County Bankruptcy – Orange County, California's largest municipal bankruptcy, nears conclusion as creditors accept a recovery plan.
- May 4🏇 Kentucky Oaks Upset – Pike Place Dancer scored a surprising win in the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks, defeating the favorite My Flag before a record crowd.
- May 5🏇 Grindstone Wins Derby – Grindstone wins the 122nd Kentucky Derby by a nose, defeating Unbridled's Song in a thrilling finish before a crowd of 142,668.
- May 6🌍 Israel-Palestine Peace Talks – Israeli and Palestinian negotiators opened the final stage of peace talks, aiming to resolve key differences within three years.
- May 7🔬 Neutrinos Have Mass – Physicists at Los Alamos National Laboratory found evidence that neutrinos, once thought massless, likely have some mass.
- May 8🌍 Meningitis Epidemic Strikes – A severe outbreak of bacterial meningitis in West Africa has infected over 100,000, causing more than 10,000 deaths.
- May 9🌍 South Africa's New Constitution – South Africa adopted a new Constitution, marking the end of white supremacy and the establishment of a nonracial democracy.
- May 10📜 South Africa's New Constitution – South Africa adopted a new Constitution ensuring racial equality and democratic elections, marking a significant transition under Nelson Mandela's leadership.
- May 11🌾 Wheat Harvest Forecast – U.S. wheat harvest expected to be the worst since 1978, but overseas production estimates rise, easing food price concerns.
- May 12🌍 Leonardo Exhibition Opens – An exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings has recently opened in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London.
- May 13🩰 Ballet Performance Highlights – A Soviet-trained ballerina captivates audiences with her performance of Odette-Odile at the American Ballet Theater.
- May 14🌍 Iran Opens Railway Link – Iran inaugurated a new rail link to Central Asia, reviving the historic Silk Road and enhancing East-West relations.
- May 15🌪️ Bangladesh Tornado Deaths – A tornado in northern Bangladesh killed at least 443 people and injured over 32,000, with local officials reporting significant destruction.
- May 16💉 New Cancer Drug Approved – The FDA approved Taxotere, a new drug effective against breast cancer in patients unresponsive to standard treatments.
- May 17🚀 Shuttle Countdown Starts – The countdown began today for the weekend liftoff of the space shuttle Endeavour on a significant science mission.
- May 18💉 FDA Approves MS Drug – Biogen Inc. received FDA approval to market Avonex, a genetically engineered drug for multiple sclerosis treatment, available by prescription soon.
- May 19🚀 Rocket Test Failure – A prototype of a reusable rocket burst into flames after completing its first flight, raising concerns about future missions.
- May 20🚀 Shuttle Technology Flight – The space shuttle Endeavour begins a 10-day mission to explore new technologies, deploying a large inflatable antenna.
- May 21🚀 Shuttle Deploys Satellite – NASA's space shuttle Endeavour successfully deployed an inflatable antenna as part of an experiment to reduce costs for building structures in orbit.
- May 22🚀 Shuttle Retrieves Satellite – The space shuttle Endeavour successfully retrieved a satellite from orbit, carrying results of tests on cheaper space structures.
- May 23🦖 New Human Species Found – A new species of early human discovered in central Africa may change the understanding of human ancestry, according to French scientists.
- May 24🎥 Documentary on Carpathians – Yale Strom's documentary "Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years" features Leonard Nimoy narrating stories from the Carpathian Mountains.
- May 25🚀 Shuttle Crew Break – The Endeavour shuttle crew took a six-hour break after completing satellite missions and repairs to an onboard Coke machine.
- May 26🌍 Health Group Votes – The World Health Organization has decided to destroy the last stocks of the smallpox virus, marking a significant step in public health history.
- May 27🏛️ Supporters Mob King – King Simeon II of Bulgaria was warmly welcomed by supporters during his return from 50 years of exile, touring Sofia's Orthodox churches.
- May 28🏆 Princeton Wins Lacrosse – Princeton's Jesse Hubbard scored the winning goal in overtime, securing a 13-12 victory over Virginia and the national championship.
- May 29🌋 Volcano Erupts Ash – Popocatepetl volcano emits gray ash, raising concerns among locals. Tourists continue to visit despite the activity.
- May 30🚀 Shuttle Lands Successfully – The space shuttle Endeavour glided to a landing in Florida after a successful 10-day mission testing new technology.
- May 31🌍 Ozone Layer Recovery – Researchers report a decline in ozone-depleting chemicals, indicating the ozone layer may recover by the decade's end.
Happy Birthday! 1996 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1996 in real headlines. See the 1996 book →