It happened on… August 6

NASA lands the Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars.

Tiger Woods (age 30) becomes the youngest player in golf history to win 50 tournaments on the PGA Tour.

NASA announces that it has discovered evidence of primitive life on Mars.

Actor Timothy Dalton becomes the fourth actor to portray James Bond.

The first NFL exhibition game is played in Europe at Wembley Stadium in London. The Minnesota Vikings defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 28–10.

The Beatles release the album “Help!” in England.

Chubby Checker performs his version of “The Twist” on “The Dick Clark Show,” sparking a global phenomenon.

A B-29 bomber drops the first atomic bomb, called “Little Boy,” on the city of Hiroshima, Japan, killing approximately 140,000 people.

The first Venice Film Festival begins. It is the oldest film festival in the world.

Pitcher Cy Young earns his first win. He would go on to accumulate 511 wins in his career.