Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman, walked into the Louvre disguised as a maintenance worker and simply lifted the Mona Lisa off the wall. He hid the painting under his coat and walked out, unnoticed. The theft went undiscovered for over 24 hours, sparking a global manhunt
1911 – Mona Lisa Theft
On August 21, 1913, Harry Brearley, experimenting with alloys, discovered stainless steel in Sheffield, England. His innovation, a rust-resistant metal, revolutionized industries such as cutlery and construction. This shiny, durable material, resistant to corrosion, opened new possibilities in engineering and manufacturing, becoming essential in tools, architecture, medical instruments, and everyday life.
1913 – The Invention of Stainless Steel
On August 21, 1986, a sudden carbon dioxide release from Lake Nyos in Cameroon suffocated over 1,700 people and thousands of animals. The gas, trapped beneath the lake, erupted silently, sweeping through villages without warning. The deadly cloud left devastation in its wake, marking one of the most mysterious natural disasters in history.
1986 – The Lake Nyos Disaster
On August 21, 1957, the NS Savannah, the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was launched in the U.S. A marvel of modern engineering, it represented the peaceful use of atomic energy in commercial shipping. The sleek vessel, powered by a nuclear reactor, symbolized the future of global maritime transport and clean energy innovation.
1957 – First Nuclear-Powered Ship, NS Savannah, Launched
On August 21, 1993, NASA lost contact with the Mars Observer spacecraft just as it was about to enter Martian orbit. The $980 million mission, aimed at studying Mars’ surface and atmosphere, ended abruptly. Despite extensive efforts, the spacecraft was never recovered, leaving a mystery about its sudden disappearance and lost scientific potential.
