The 1980s

1986 40 years ago

An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end

The Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War was an alleged state of war between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly. It is said to have been extended by the lack of a peace tr…

An alleged state of war lasting 335 years between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace bringing an end

1986 40 years ago

The Chernobyl disaster occurs in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

On 26 April 1986, reactor no. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near Pripyat, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, exploded. With dozens of direct casualties and thousands of…

The Chernobyl disaster occurs in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

1986 40 years ago

The city of Pripyat and surrounding areas are evacuated due to the Chernobyl disaster

Pripyat, also known as Prypiat, is an abandoned industrial city in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, located near the border with Belarus. Named after the nearby river, Pripyat, it was founded…

The city of Pripyat and surrounding areas are evacuated due to the Chernobyl disaster

1986 40 years ago

High levels of radiation resulting from the Chernobyl disaster are detected at Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden, l

On 26 April 1986, reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near Pripyat, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, exploded. With dozens of direct casualties and thousands of hea…

High levels of radiation resulting from the Chernobyl disaster are detected at Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden, l

1986 40 years ago

Jonathan Pollard pleads guilty to espionage for selling top secret United States military intelligence to Israel

Jonathan Jay Pollard is an American-born Israeli spy and former intelligence analyst who was jailed for spying for Israel.

Jonathan Pollard pleads guilty to espionage for selling top secret United States military intelligence to Israel

1986 40 years ago

Shinji Okazaki, Japanese footballer

Shinji Okazaki is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is best known for winning the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016. He is currently t…

Shinji Okazaki, Japanese footballer

1986 40 years ago

Peter Regin, Danish ice hockey player

Peter Regin Jensen is a Danish former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the third round of the 2004 NHL entry draft and played his first five…

Peter Regin, Danish ice hockey player

1986 40 years ago

Epke Zonderland, Dutch gymnast

Epke Jan Zonderland is a Dutch artistic gymnast and the 2012 Olympic gold medallist on high bar. He is a 4-time Olympian (2008–20) and has also taken 3 World Championships golds on…

Epke Zonderland, Dutch gymnast

1986 40 years ago

A fire at the Central library of the Los Angeles Public Library damages or destroys 400,000 books and other items

The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) is a public library system in Los Angeles, California, operating separate from the Los Angeles County Public Library system. The system holds …

A fire at the Central library of the Los Angeles Public Library damages or destroys 400,000 books and other items

1986 40 years ago

The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise becomes the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed to carry, launch, recover and support aircraft at sea, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities that allow it to serv…

The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise becomes the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the

1986 40 years ago

Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster

On 26 April 1986, reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located near Pripyat, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, exploded. With dozens of direct casualties and thousands of hea…

Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster

1986 40 years ago

Twenty-one people are killed and forty-one are injured after a bomb explodes on Air Lanka Flight 512 at Colombo airport

Air Lanka Flight 512 was an Air Lanka flight from London Gatwick Airport via Zurich and Dubai to Colombo and Malé, Maldives. On 3 May 1986, the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar serving the …

Twenty-one people are killed and forty-one are injured after a bomb explodes on Air Lanka Flight 512 at Colombo airport

1986 40 years ago

Romain Grosjean, French race car driver

Romain David Jeremie Grosjean is a French and Swiss racing driver, who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Lamborghini and serves as a driver in the IndyCar Series for …

Romain Grosjean, French race car driver

1986 40 years ago

Tina Bru, Norwegian politician

Tina Bru is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party. From 2020 to 2021, she served as the Minister of Petroleum and Energy. She was a member of the Storting for Rogaland …

Tina Bru, Norwegian politician

1986 40 years ago

Amber Heard, American actress

Amber Laura Heard is an American actress. She had her first leading role in the horror film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006), and went on to star in films such as The Ward (2010…

Amber Heard, American actress

1986 40 years ago

Alysia Montaño, American runner

Alysia Montaño is an American middle distance runner. She is a six-time USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 800 metres champion. She gained significant publicity for the 2014…

Alysia Montaño, American runner

1986 40 years ago

Rafael Fernandes, Brazilian baseball player

Rafael Miranda Fernandes is a Brazilian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swall…

Rafael Fernandes, Brazilian baseball player

1986 40 years ago

The Hands Across America event takes place

Hands Across America was a public fundraising event held on Sunday, May 25, 1986, Memorial Day weekend, which attempted to create a continuous human chain of people holding hands a…

The Hands Across America event takes place

1986 40 years ago

The European Community adopts the European flag

The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957, aiming to foster economic integration among its member states. It was subse…

The European Community adopts the European flag

1986 40 years ago

Candace Parker, American basketball player

Candace Nicole Parker, nicknamed "Ace", is an American former professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as t…

Candace Parker, American basketball player

1986 40 years ago

Marshawn Lynch, American football player

Marshawn Terrell Lynch is an American former professional football running back and actor who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. Nicknamed "Beast Mode", h…

Marshawn Lynch, American football player

1986 40 years ago

Sven Kramer, Dutch speed skater

Sven Kramer is a retired Dutch long track speed skater who has won an all-time record nine World Allround Championships as well as a record ten European Allround Championships. He …

Sven Kramer, Dutch speed skater

1986 40 years ago

Aaron Cunningham, American baseball player

Aaron Roe Ward Cunningham is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Clevelan…

Aaron Cunningham, American baseball player

1986 40 years ago

Alexei Emelin, Russian ice hockey player

Alexei Vyacheslavovich Emelin is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Dubai Red Stars of the Emirates Ice Hockey League. He was selected in the third roun…

Alexei Emelin, Russian ice hockey player