Today in history, August 29: What happened on this day

(Representative Image: Canva)

August 29 has been marked by a range of notable moments in history, spanning from groundbreaking scientific achievements to memorable cultural events. Let's explore some of the key happenings on this day.

1988: Abdul Mohmand Becomes Afghanistan's First Space Traveller
Abdul Mohmand, an Afghan Air Force pilot, embarked on his historic journey aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz TM-6. He spent nine days at the Mir Space Station, marking a significant milestone for Afghanistan's space exploration.

1982: Meitnerium Synthesised for the First Time
The synthetic element with the atomic number 109, named meitnerium after physicist Lise Meitner, was first created at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. This element was a significant achievement in nuclear science, discovered by a team led by Peter Armbruster and Gottfried Münzenberg.

1966: The Beatles' Final Commercial Performance
The iconic British rock band, The Beatles, performed their last paid concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. Though they reunited for a surprise rooftop performance in January 1969, this concert marked the end of their public live performances.

1949: Soviet Union Tests Its First Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb, codenamed Izdeliye 501, at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. This 22-kiloton bomb, similar to the Fat Man bomb from the Manhattan Project, was a pivotal moment in Cold War history.

1831: Michael Faraday Discovers Electromagnetic Induction
Michael Faraday’s experiments proved that a changing magnetic field can induce voltage in a conductor. This discovery paved the way for modern electrical technologies, including generators and transformers.

Notable Births on August 29

• 1958: Michael Jackson, Legendary American singer-songwriter
• 1936: John McCain, Respected American politician
• 1923: Richard Attenborough, Renowned English director
• 1915: Ingrid Bergman, Celebrated Swedish actress
• 1632: John Locke, Influential English philosopher

• 1982: Ingrid Bergman, Acclaimed Swedish actress
• 1976: Kazi Nazrul Islam, Notable Indian poet and flute player
• 1975: Éamon de Valera, Prominent Irish politician, 3rd President of Ireland
• 1966: Sayyid Qutb,  Influential Egyptian theorist and author
• 1877:  Brigham Young,  Important American religious leader