January 7: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to remove third-party fact-checking from Facebook and Instagram.

Four years to the day after banning Donald Trump from all Meta platforms, Zuckerberg decided instead to cave to the incoming president's demands. The controversial move came after relentless pressure from conservative groups that claimed their freedom of speech was being repressed.

A 57-year-old man received the first transplanted heart from a genetically modified pig.

The Sahara desert was blanketed in snow.

This was a rare sight for one of the hottest places in the world, where the average temperature is 86°F.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, into the world.

"Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful; we are in heaven. She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs, and it was the best experience of both of our lives."

The iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned “too far,” which resulted in its closure.

The tower's bells were removed to reduce the weight, and it was reopened to the public on December 15, 2001.

Akihito succeeded his father to become the 125th Emperor of Japan.

Like all post-WWII Emperors of Japan, his role was entirely ceremonial. Akihito abdicated the throne to his son in 2019, becoming the longest-lived recorded Emperor of Japan.

President Truman announced to the people of America that they successfully developed a hydrogen bomb.

The first-ever photograph of genes was taken.

Biology and photography collided when Pease and Baker created the first successful photo of genes at the University of Southern California.

The first telephone call was made across the Atlantic – from London to New York.

The distress signal “CQD” was established.

Two years later, it was replaced by "SOS."

Black men were chased away by gunmen after trying to rescue white survivors during a mine explosion.

The tragedy happened at a mine in Krebs, Oklahoma, where one hundred people lost their lives.

The US celebrated the opening of the country’s first railroad station in Baltimore.

Italy used its current tri-colored flag for the first time.

The first US commercial bank, The Bank of North America, opened in Philadelphia.

Galileo discovered the first three satellites of Jupiter.

At first, he thought he saw three small stars, but over the following days, he noticed the location of the stars had changed each time. It was then that he realized they were "wandering around Jupiter."

French forces attacked Calais and took it back from English rule.

King Henry II of France sent his troops to Calais, who captured the city without significant difficulties. Originally part of French territory, Calais had been under English control since they captured it in 1347.