50 Years Ago

Health & Medicine

50 years on, vaccines have eliminated measles from the Americas

Thanks to high vaccination rates, measles has mostly disappeared from the Americas.

Ecosystems

50 years ago, invasive species traveled the Suez Canal

Hundreds of Red Sea species used the Suez Canal to migrate to the Mediterranean Sea, leading to the decline of some native species.

Astronomy

50 years ago, pulsars burst onto the scene

Thousands of pulsars have been discovered since the announcement of their detection 50 years ago.

Health & Medicine

50 years ago, early organ transplants brought triumph and tragedy

In 1968, the liver transplant field had its first small successes. Now, more than 30,000 patients in the U.S. receive a donated liver each year.

Physics

50 years on, nuclear fusion still hasn’t delivered clean energy

In 1968, scientists predicted that the world would soon use nuclear fusion as an energy source.

Health & Medicine

50 years ago, IUDs were deemed safe and effective

50 year ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared intrauterine devices safe and effective, though officials didn’t know how the IUDs worked.

Archaeology

How the Dead Sea Scrolls survived a war in the 1960s

50 years after the Dead Sea Scrolls survived a war, another possible scroll cave offered tantalizing new clues.

Genetics

50 years ago, synthetic DNA made its debut

Synthetic DNA has come a long way since it arrived on the scene half a century ago.

Humans

50 years ago, folate deficiency was linked to birth defects

50 years ago, scientists found that a lack of folic acid in pregnant women could cause birth defects. But now, how much is too much?

Tech

50 years ago, artificial limbs weren’t nearly as responsive

Artificial limbs have come a long way since 1967.

Animals

Ants were among the world’s first farmers

50 years ago, researchers began unraveling the secrets to Attine ants’ green thumbs.

Tech

50 years ago, engineers tried catching commercial planes in nets

Fifty years ago, aviation experts tried helping commercial aircraft come to a stop during landing by catching them in massive nets. The idea crash-landed for commercial flights, but it’s still used in the military.