Good Morning! It’s Saturday, February 1, 2025. I am Dom Einhorn, your lead curator, and here are your insights into what makes this day in history relevant today. First time reading? Join our community of intellectually curious readers who explore the history behind every day. [Sign up here]

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Today in History

Marquee Event of the Day

> February 1, 2003: Space Shuttle Columbia tragically lost during re-entry.

Why this matters: The destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia was a devastating tragedy that profoundly impacted space exploration. The disaster, caused by damage to the shuttle’s thermal protection system during launch, led to the deaths of all seven crew members and prompted an extensive investigation by NASA. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) identified safety oversights and organizational failures, leading to significant reforms in NASA’s shuttle program. The remaining shuttle fleet was grounded for over two years, and new safety protocols, including in-orbit inspections and repair techniques, were introduced. The tragedy ultimately influenced the decision to retire the Space Shuttle program in 2011, shaping the future of human spaceflight by accelerating the transition to commercial space partnerships and new spacecraft designs, such as NASA’s Orion program and private sector initiatives like SpaceX.

To learn more about Space Shuttle Columbia, we prepared this special quiz for you.

Notable Events

• February 1, 2013 - House of Cards, Netflix's first original series, premieres on the streaming platform.

• February 1, 2018 - The military seizes power in Myanmar, ousting the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

• February 1, 1946 - Norwegian politician and diplomat Trygve Lie became the first secretary-general of the United Nations.

In partnership with Masters of Trivia 
Knowledge Gamified

Masters of Trivia is gearing up to launch its utility token soon. Register for a FREE player account now so as not to miss out!

A recent New York Weekly article featured Dom Einhorn’s attempt to “Revolutionize Quizzing and Hyper-Targeted Advertising.” For transparency, Intelligent Games is the parent company of both the KRONIKL newsletter and Masters of Trivia, the quiz platform linked to many topics featured in this newsletter. An excerpt of the article reads:

Einhorn points to the company’s slogan to explain the

value of Masters of Trivia’s platform. “Our slogan is ‘Knowledge Gamified’ and not ‘Gamified Knowledge’ for a good reason,” he explains. “We aim to educate and inform first and foremost, but we also know that most people need to be deeply engaged in the learning process. Hence, we added a heavy dose of entertainment and incentives to the mix.”

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Echoes in Time

Here are two events from February 1 that continue to resonate in the present day.

1. Event: February 1, 1960 - Four African Americans began a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's in Greensboro, sparking a broader movement across the South.

Lasting Significance: The Greensboro sit-in of 1960 marked a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring a wave of nonviolent protests against segregation across the South. Led by four African American college students, the sit-in challenged racial discrimination at lunch counters and highlighted the power of grassroots activism. Its success led to the desegregation of many public spaces and helped galvanize broader efforts for civil rights, ultimately contributing to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

2. Event: February 1, 1884 - The first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary was published in London, with the final volume completed on April 19, 1928.

Lasting Significance: The publication of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) marked a groundbreaking achievement in lexicography, providing the most comprehensive record of the English language. Compiled over decades, the OED documented the evolution of words with historical depth, tracing their meanings and usage over time. Its meticulous scholarship set a new standard for dictionaries and became an essential linguistic resource for scholars, writers, and researchers worldwide. The OED remains a living document, continually updated to reflect the ever-changing nature of the English language.

In the Spotlight

Birthdays, Passings & Milestones
Highlighting the influential figures who were born or died on this day, along with their legacies.

• February 1, 1974 - University of Washington student Lynda Ann Healy vanished from her apartment and later became a victim of Ted Bundy.

• February 1, 1968 - Nixon announces his candidacy for president

• February 1, 1931 - Boris Yeltsin, former president of Russia, is born.

Science & Discovery

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• February 1, 1979 - Voyager 1 captures an image of Jupiter from 20.3 million miles (32.7 million km) away.

• February 1, 1783 - English-German astronomer William Herschel announces that the star Lambda Herculis is near the solar apex.

• February 1, 1793 - Ralph Hodgson of New York receives a patent for oiled silk and linen.

Today in Finance

Brought to you by Born2Invest.
Curated reads and interesting tidbits from the world of finance.

• February 1, 1788 - The state of Georgia grants the first U.S. steamboat patent to Briggs & Longstreet.

• February 1, 1843 - The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York (MONY), the oldest continuous insurer in the U.S., was established.

• February 1, 1814 - Lord Byron's The Corsair sold 10,000 copies on its first day of publication.

• February 1, 1881 - The U.S. authorizes the establishment of an Assay Office in St. Louis, Missouri.

Today in Sports

Brought to you by The Hunslet Wolves, a new UK-based rugby franchise coached by the former defensive head coach of the French National Team, David Ellis.

• February 1, 2023 - Tom Brady announces his retirement from the NFL, leaving a legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history with a record seven Super Bowl titles.

• February 1, 1969 - Gabriel Batistuta, an Argentine football legend and one of the country's greatest goal scorers. is born.

• February 1, 1913 - Olympic champion Jim Thorpe signed with the New York Giants, though his MLB career (1913–1919) was unremarkable.

• February 1, 2014 - Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning wins his record 5th MVP award at the NFL Honors in New York.

In the Arts Today

• February 1, 2004 - Janet Jackson's Super Bowl halftime "wardrobe malfunction" with Justin Timberlake sparks controversy, with debate over whether it was accidental or staged.

• February 1, 1901 - American film star Clark Gable, known as the “King of Hollywood” for his immense popularity, was born in Cadiz, Ohio.

• February 1, 1896 - Giacomo Puccini premieres his opera La Bohème at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy.

• February 1, 1893 - Thomas Edison completed the world's first movie studio in West Orange, New Jersey.

The Rest of the Story

• February 1, 1820 - In the Battle of Cepeda, Argentina, federalist forces triumphed over the unitarios, who supported a strong central government.

• February 1, 1790 - The first session of the Supreme Court of the United States is held in New York City.

• February 1, 2009 - Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became Iceland’s first female prime minister and the world’s first openly gay head of government.

Quote of the Day

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Why KRONIKL? Inspired by the timeless concept of chronicles, KRONIKL is dedicated to bringing you the most intriguing, thought-provoking stories from this date. Culture, science, politics, and more — all condensed for a quick, insightful read that connects your present with our past.

*Disclosure: Masters of Trivia is a quiz platform founded by Dom Einhorn and owned by Intelligent Games LLC—the same company that brings you the KRONIKL newsletter.