October 13: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

Microsoft purchased Activision Blizzard in a record-breaking $69 billion takeover.

Microsoft's chief gaming executive announced that despite the takeover, gamers' favorite franchises would remain accessible to the usual platforms.

115,000-year-old human bones found in Poland turned out to be from a Neanderthal child who was eaten by a giant bird.

The American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan won a Nobel prize in literature.

A painting called “Abstraktes” by Gerhard Richter sold for a record $34 million.

All 33 miners trapped after a mining accident in Chile were rescued after being stuck underground for 69 days.

The accident happened on August 5, 2010, at the San José copper-gold mine in the Atacama Desert. The men were stuck 296.6 ft (700 m) under the surface, and it cost $20 million for the rescue mission.

Cellular mobile phone service was made available to the American public for the first time.

The US government began its trade embargo against Cuba.

Most US exports were halted aside from medicine and basic food items.

The American drama film “All About Eve,” by Joseph L. Mankiewicz starring Bette Davis, premiered in the US.

The film won the Best Picture award in 1951.

The Safety Hood, which would later become the gas mask, was patented by Garrett Morgan.

Morgan described his invention as a "portable attachment which will enable a fireman to enter a house filled with thick, suffocating gases and smoke."

Margaret Symons became the first woman to speak in British Parliament.

James Wallace Black took the USA’s first aerial photo in Boston from a hot air balloon.

The citizens of Texas accepted the new constitution and approved the annexation ordinance.

The Republic of Texas applied to become part of the United States of America when it declared independence from the Republic of Mexico; however, its application was rejected. After negotiating, the US congress offered a resolution that Texas accepted.

The cornerstone of the White House was laid, marking the first day of construction.

Charles Messier discovered the Whirlpool Galaxy.

The galaxy is around 76,000 light years in diameter and contains an estimated 2.1 trillion stars.

Nero began his reign as Roman Emperor at the age of 16, as his predecessor Claudius died from suspicious circumstances.