Today in History
May 06
1953: Tony Blair, former British prime minister, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1937: The Hindenburg, an airship powered by hyrdogen gas that had previously made many successful trips across the Atlantic Ocean, exploded as it was landing in a field in Lakehurst, New Jersey. While the actual cause of the explosion is still debated, there is a theory that lightning ignited the fabric on the outside of the airship which was then fueled by the hydrogen gas. Smoking was allowed on the airship in one room. Thirty-six of the 97 passengers were killed in the tragedy.
1931: Willie Mays, Hall of Fame baseball player, was born in Westfield, Alabama.
SCIENCE IN HISTORY
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