Japan's record-breaking rollercoaster
On 1 August 2000, a new rollercoaster opened to the public at a theme park in Japan.Named Steel Dragon 2000, it's located at the Nagashima Spa Land amusement park in Kuwana.When it first opened, it br...
1 Aug 20259min
Chuquicamata: Chile's abandoned mining town
By 2007, the 25,000 residents of a Chilean mining town had moved out of their homes due to concerns about pollution levels from one of the largest copper mines in the world.Today, the ghost town of Ch...
31 Jul 202510min
Cleveland Balloonfest '86
In 1986, a world record attempt was launched by the city of Cleveland, in the US.One and a half million balloons were blown up by volunteers ready to be released into the sky, with thousands of people...
30 Jul 20259min
Eta’s assassination of Juan Mari Jáuregui
On 29 July 2000, retired Spanish politician Juan Mari Jáuregui was assassinated by Basque separatists Eta. Deemed a terrorist organisation by the European Union, Eta killed more than 800 people betwee...
29 Jul 202510min
The Russian revolutionaries nearly stranded in London
In 1907, the men who would go on to lead the Russian Revolution met in London for a crucial congress.But the revolutionaries – including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky – were nearly s...
28 Jul 202510min
A Chorus Line
It's 50 years since theatre history was made - the premiere of A Chorus Line. It was seen as a seminal moment, turning the spotlight on the people who make the show for the first time.Baayork Lee tell...
25 Jul 20259min
The invention of Kevlar
In 1965, a new fibre was discovered by Polish American scientist Stephanie Kwolek. It was called Kevlar and it was found to be five times stronger than steel. Since that discovery it’s been used to s...
24 Jul 202510min
President Clinton plays the sax in Prague
In January 1994, two presidents enjoyed a memorable night in the Czech Republic – ending with an impromptu jazz performance.Five years after the fall of communism, the US president Bill Clinton visite...
23 Jul 20259min
