The 1980s

1986 40 years ago

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (pictured) near Chernobyl, Ukrainian SSR, suffered a steam explosion, resulting in a f

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) is a nuclear power plant undergoing decommissioning. ChNPP is located near the abandoned city of Pripyat in northern Ukraine, 16.5 kilomet…

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (pictured) near Chernobyl, Ukrainian SSR, suffered a steam explosion, resulting in a f

1986 40 years ago

Henri Toivonen was killed in an accident while leading the Tour de Corse rally, resulting in FISA banning the popular Gr

Henri Pauli Toivonen was a Finnish rally driver born in Jyväskylä, the home of Rally Finland. His father, Pauli, was the 1968 European Rally Champion for Porsche and his younger br…

Henri Toivonen was killed in an accident while leading the Tour de Corse rally, resulting in FISA banning the popular Gr

1986 40 years ago

A stationary front began over the central Caribbean Sea, leading to severe floods that over two weeks killed dozens of p

A stationary front is a weather front or transition zone between two air masses when each air mass is advancing into the other at speeds less than 5 knots at the ground surface. Th…

A stationary front began over the central Caribbean Sea, leading to severe floods that over two weeks killed dozens of p

1985

Radio Martí, part of the Voice of America service, begins broadcasting to Cuba

Radio y Televisión Martí is an international broadcaster based in Miami, Florida, financed by the federal government of the United States through the U.S. Agency for Global Media. …

Radio Martí, part of the Voice of America service, begins broadcasting to Cuba

1985

Members of the Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers, dressed as Salvadoran soldiers, attack the Zona Rosa are

The Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers was a political party in Central America.

Members of the Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers, dressed as Salvadoran soldiers, attack the Zona Rosa are

1985

Two hundred ATF and FBI agents lay siege to the compound of the white supremacist survivalist group The Covenant, the Sw

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), commonly abbreviated as the ATF, is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice.…

Two hundred ATF and FBI agents lay siege to the compound of the white supremacist survivalist group The Covenant, the Sw

1985

University of California, Riverside 1985 laboratory raid: Animal Liberation Front rescues 467 animals being tested in a

In 1985, a raid took place at a laboratory belonging to the University of California, Riverside (UCR) that resulted in the removal of a monkey by the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).…

University of California, Riverside 1985 laboratory raid: Animal Liberation Front rescues 467 animals being tested in a

1985

The Val di Stava dam collapses killing 268 people in Val di Stava, Italy.

The Val di Stava Dam collapse occurred on 19 July 1985, when two tailings dams above the village of Stava, near Tesero, Italy, collapsed. It resulted in one of Italy's worst disast…

The Val di Stava dam collapses killing 268 people in Val di Stava, Italy.

1985

Luol Deng, Sudanese-English basketball player

Luol Ajou Deng is a South Sudanese-born British former professional basketball player. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. Bo…

Luol Deng, Sudanese-English basketball player

1985

Nate Diaz, American mixed martial artist

Nathan Donald Diaz is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer who is currently a free agent. Diaz is most known for his time spent fighting in the Ultimate Fighting…

Nate Diaz, American mixed martial artist

1985

Brendon Leonard, New Zealand rugby player

Brendon Leonard is a New Zealand rugby union footballer.

Brendon Leonard, New Zealand rugby player

1985

The compound of the militant group The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord surrenders to federal authorities in

The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA) was a far-right survivalist anti-government militia which advocated Christian Identity and was active in the United States du…

The compound of the militant group The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord surrenders to federal authorities in

1985

Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke

Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers dri…

Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke

1985

Space Shuttle Challenger is launched on STS-51-B

Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099) was a Space Shuttle orbiter manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by NASA. Named after the commanding ship of a nineteenth-century s…

Space Shuttle Challenger is launched on STS-51-B

1985

Ronald Reagan visits the military cemetery at Bitburg and the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where he mak

Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. A member of the Republican Party, he became an im…

Ronald Reagan visits the military cemetery at Bitburg and the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where he mak

1985

Fifty-six spectators die and more than 200 are injured in the Bradford City stadium fire

The Bradford City stadium fire occurred during a Football League Third Division match on Saturday 11 May 1985 at the Valley Parade stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, kil…

Fifty-six spectators die and more than 200 are injured in the Bradford City stadium fire

1985

Police bombed MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 c

The 1985 MOVE bombing, locally known by its date, May 13, 1985, was the aerial bombing of a house, and the destruction of 61 more houses by the subsequent fire, in the Cobbs Creek …

Police bombed MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 c

1985

Taye Taiwo, Nigerian footballer

Taye Ismaila Taiwo is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Taye Taiwo, Nigerian footballer

1985

Rooney Mara, American actress

Patricia Rooney Mara is an American actress. Her accolades include nominations for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award.

Rooney Mara, American actress

1985

Luke Mitchell, Australian actor and model

Luke Mitchell (born 17 April 1985) is an Australian actor. He attended the Film and Television Studio International, and won the role of Chris Knight in Neighbours in 2008. Mitchel…

Luke Mitchell, Australian actor and model

1985

Police bomb MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 cit

The 1985 MOVE bombing, locally known by its date, May 13, 1985, was the aerial bombing of a house, and the destruction of 61 more houses by the subsequent fire, in the Cobbs Creek …

Police bomb MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia, killing six adults and five children, and destroying the homes of 250 cit

1985

Bangladesh is hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge, which kills approximately 10,000 people

Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world and among the most densely populated wit…

Bangladesh is hit by a tropical cyclone and storm surge, which kills approximately 10,000 people

1985

Heysel Stadium disaster: Thirty-nine association football fans die and hundreds are injured when a dilapidated retaining

The Heysel Stadium disaster was a crowd disaster that occurred on 29 May 1985 when Juventus fans were escaping from an attack by Liverpool fans while they were pressed against a wa…

Heysel Stadium disaster: Thirty-nine association football fans die and hundreds are injured when a dilapidated retaining

1985

Amputee Steve Fonyo completes cross-Canada marathon at Victoria, British Columbia, after 14 months

Amputation is the removal of a limb or other body part by trauma, medical illness, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affecte…

Amputee Steve Fonyo completes cross-Canada marathon at Victoria, British Columbia, after 14 months