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President Reagan Assassination Attempt
Shot and wounded by John Hinckley -
Aids
The Center for Disease Control publishes the first official report of men infected with what will be known later as the AIDS -
Royal Wedding
Prince Charles and Diana Spencer marry. -
Titanic Wreckage Found
While on a Cold War mission to find two wrecked nuclear submarines, U.S. oceanographer Robert Ballard and colleagues find the wreckage of the "Titanic," a luxury liner which sank in 1912. -
Space Shuttle Challenger explodes
On the way for its 9th mission to space, the shuttle Challenger explodes over Cape Canaveral, killing all seven astronauts aboard, including the civilian social studies teacher Christa McAuliffe. -
Chernobyl
The deadliest nuclear power plant accident to date occurred outside the Ukrainian city of Chernobyl, scattering radioactive material across Europe. -
Klaus Barbie
Nikolaus "Klaus" Barbie, a former Nazi official, was found guilty of crimes against humanity by a French court on July 4, 1987. -
Pan Am flight 103
Pan Am flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all 259 on-board and 11 people on the ground, the result of a terrorist bombing attributed to Libyans. -
Chinese students march for change
Students march through Beijing to Tienanmen Square calling for a more democratic government. -
Berlin Wall Falls
The Berlin Wall falls, after an announcement by the East German government that the border checkpoints were open. The impromptu celebration was televised around the world.