January 2: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that gaming addiction is a Mental Health Disorder.

A bus plunged 400ft from a cliff in Malshej Ghat, India, killing thirty people.

The bus collided with a lorry resulting in the driver losing control. The bus then fell into a 400 ft deep gorge and split open on the rocky ground.

The Stardust space probe collected a sample of comet dust.

The probe flew within 147 miles (237km) of the Wild 2 comet to collect the samples of dust. On January 15, 2006, a capsule containing the sample was returned to Earth. On August 14, 2014, interstellar dust particles were identified within the sample.

Prolific serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, also known as the “Yorkshire Ripper,” was arrested in Sheffield, UK.

The mapping of Mars’ surface began.

Mariner 9 started mapping over 85% of the surface area of Mars on this day.

Martin Luther King Jr. pushed hard to encourage the registration of black voters in Selma.

Brutality against blacks was rife during this time. Martin Luther King Jr. picked this location in hopes of attracting national attention.

Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy gave a speech announcing that he was running for US President.

"I believe that the Democratic Party has a historic function to perform in the winning of the 1960 election, comparable to its role in 1932. I intend to do my utmost to see that that victory is won."

The Duquesne Spy Ring, a Nazi German espionage network, was sentenced to prison.

Thirty-three members of the spy ring were convicted of espionage in what became the largest espionage case in US history that led to actual convictions. The spies were convicted after a 16-month-long FBI investigation.

The US & Canada agreed to divert the Niagara River to protect the Niagara Falls from eroding.

A patent was awarded to Willis Carrier, which gave us the world’s first Air Conditioner.

The Moon was photographed for the first time.

On this day, a French photographer called Louis Daguerre took the first photograph of Earth's Moon. Sadly, a fire broke out at his laboratory just two months later, which destroyed the entire building, including all his work.

Georgia became the 4th state to join the United States of America.

Mercurius became Pope John II, making him the first pope to change their name after attaining popehood.

The Alemanni crossed the frozen Rhine in large numbers and invaded the Roman Empire.