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Physicist Theodore Maiman uses a synthetic-ruby crystal to create the first laser.
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Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in his Vostok 1 spacecraft
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Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin receives a U.S. patent for the three-point, lap-and-shoulder, vehicle safety belt. It's considered one of the most important and widespread safety innovations of all time.
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Thomas Starzl , world-renowned transplant surgeon performed the first human liver transplant. He was a pioneer in kidney transplantation.
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New Computer language. In the predawn hours of May Day, two professors at Dartmouth College run the first program in their new language, Basic.
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Early Bird (Intelsat I) is launched into synchronous orbit. This is the world's first commercial communications satellite and "live via satellite" is born.
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The hand-held pocket calculator was invented at Texas Instruments, Incorporated (TI).
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The first human-to-human heart transplant is performed. The operation is a success, but the patient dies after complications set in.
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The invention of the computer mouse by Douglas Engelbart, an American inventor working at the Stanford Research Institute.This was taken as a very small discovery that was a part of a much larger project.
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Apollo 11 was the first manned moon landing, touched down. The mission was able to gather physical samples of lunar rocks and soil for analysis back on Earth. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the moon.
