1966: 50 Facts About This Astounding Year in Science
Since ECPI University opened its doors in 1966, technology has advanced in leaps and bounds. In 2016 almost everyone owns a cell phone that is capable of Googling information at any time, at any place in the world. 50 years ago, technology this advanced was only imagined in science fiction.
Let’s take a look back at 50 discoveries, inventions, awards, scientists, and some science fiction that crafted the world of 1966.
Technological Breakthroughs in 1966
As ECPI University was opening its doors to teach students how to not only survive but thrive in the world of technology that was surely emerging, advancements in technology were happening all around. Here are just some of the breakthroughs that happened in 1966.
1. Carterfone: This device connected mobile radios to the telephone network. This invention caused phone companies to sue for use of their system, but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supported the Carterfone.
2. Hewlett-Packard 2116A: HP’s first computer, this invention marked the first time HP used integrated circuits in a commercial product.
3. ILLIAC IV Project Started: Although this processing computer wouldn’t be ready to operate until 1972, this project was the most ambitious of its kind.
4. Joseph Weizenbaum’s ELIZA: This invention was a language processing environment. It had a mode called DOCTOR which would ask and answer questions similar to a psychotherapist. It was able to fool some users into thinking they were talking to a real person for a short period of time, but far from passing the Turing Test, the device would eventually devolve into nonsense.
5. RCA’s Spectra Series of Computers Announced: These enormous computers were the first commercial units to use integrated circuits. Competing with IBM, it offered advantages, while being able to run most of IBM’s software with little fuss.
7. 8-bit semiconductor RAM: Designed by a team, the TMC3162 16-bit scratchpad memory created for the Honeywell model 4200 microcomputer has the distinction of being the first widely second sourced semiconductor RAM.
8. TIAC 870 unveiled: Researched and manufactured by Texas Instruments, this Advanced Scientific Computer (ASC) was one of the first integrated-circuit computers. The model was costly and with rapid advancements being made, TI continued refining its techniques.
9. Acoustic modems (also called couplers) were developed: When telephone companies put restrictions and exorbitant charges on connection equipment that used telephone lines, the Stanford Research Institute developed these devices which mimicked handset operations.
10. Amateur Computer Society is founded: With an eye toward the rapid advancements computers were already making, the Amateur Computer Society was founded and began circulating a newsletter for anyone interested in personal computing. The society’s newsletter ceased publication in 1976.
11. ARPAnet Project is initiated: The predecessor to the internet, this program was a part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The United States launched the ARPA in 1958 as a response to the Sputnik space launch from the USSR.
12. Concept of DRAM conceived: IBM scientist Robert Dennard had the idea while in his home and ended up calling his boss to share it around 10 p.m. that night. The idea, a single-transistor dynamic random access memory (DRAM), was patented in 1967 and went on to become a critical part of computer development.
13. Cal-Tech handheld calculator developed: Texas Instruments developed a handheld calculator able to do simple math equations while still fitting in the palm of your hand. It was capable of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, and ran on battery power.
14. Kevlar is patented: Stephanie Kwolek developed a material five times stronger than steel while being extremely lightweight. This material is still used in bulletproof vests today.
Scientific Advancements in 1966
As computers and technology were surging ahead, the science behind how we view and understand the world was catching up fast. Here are some of the breakthroughs and advancements that took place in the world of science in this incredible year.
1966 Advancements in Astronomy
16. Venera 3 lands on the surface of Venus: Another Soviet spacecraft, this station was the first to impact the surface of another planet. Unfortunately, there was no data sent back from the spacecraft due to a loss of communications systems, most likely from issues with landing.
17. Gemini 8 launches for tests and experiments: This manned NASA spacecraft was the sixth earth-orbiting vehicle in the Gemini series. It carried astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott in order to perform docking tests with the Agena target vehicle and execute an ExtraVehicular Activity experiment.
18. Luna 10 orbits the moon: This Soviet spacecraft was the first human-made object to orbit a celestial body beyond earth, and thus the first to orbit the moon. Data mined from the mission gave scientists new insight into the moon’s environment.
19. Leonid meteor display takes place over parts of North America: The return of Comet Tempel-Tuttle marked the Leonid meteor display, which happens every 33 years. In 1966 the display was quite brilliant and was marked by scientific study, both of the shower and the meteor that caused it.
20. Saturn’s moon Janus is discovered: Audouin Dolfus discovered the satellite in December of 1966. It’s the sixth moon discovered to orbit Saturn and is estimated to be several billion years old due to crater patterns.
1966 Advancements in Biology
22. Royal Society Discussion releases new information about enzymes: David Phillips, Louise Johnson, and Charles Vernon had all separately worked on solving structures of lysozyme, but together they changed the path of biochemistry for forever.
23. Walter Gilbert discovers the lac operon: Confirming the, until then, theorized existence of repressor molecules, Gilbert established these played a part in making beta galactosidase detach from the gene when lactose was present.
24. Long-Term Potentiation (LPT) discovered: A breakthrough in understanding how memory functions and helps animals and individuals learn, Terje Lømo observed how the hippocampus plays into learned tasks through experiments with rats.
Previously only known from fossil records, 1966 marks the first discovery of a living mountain pygmy possum. The creature is known for its long lifespan, with some females reaching the age of 12 years.
26. Phylogenetic Systematics published in English: Willi Hennig, a German entomologist, made huge advances in the field of cladistics, a branch of evolutionary biology, with the publication and subsequent translations of his book, Phylogenetic Systematics.
Awards for Science and Mathematics in 1966
When it came time to give out the highest awards available to scientists and mathematicians, the committees must have had a difficult time deciding on which high-achieving person would receive the award. The Noble Prizes in chemistry, physics, and medicine, as well as the Fields medal in Mathematics and the Turing Award for contributions to the computing community, were all awarded in 1966. Check out who made the cut on these prestigious awards:
Nobel Prize
28. Robert S. Mulliken – Chemistry: His work in chemical bonding and theoretical chemistry led to his award in 1966. Mulliken had performed fundamental work around chemical bonds and the structure of the molecule.
29. Peyton Rous – Medicine: Rous was a medical oncology researcher who discovered viruses that induced tumors in a hen. However, the study did not carry over to mammals and was overlooked for many years.
30. Charles B. Huggins – Medicine: Huggins was awarded the Noble Prize for his revolutionary breakthrough in oncology. He found that prostate cancer’s course could be impacted by hormones. He went on to develop hormone treatment for breast cancer as well.
Fields Medal for Mathematics
31. Sir Michael Francis Atiyah: Atiyah won the highest honor in mathematics for his work on algebraic topology. He also worked on a proof of the index theorem of Atiyah-Singer.
32. Paul Joseph Cohen: An American mathematician, he was awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the independence of the continuum hypothesis stemming from the other axioms of set theory.
33. Alexander Grothendieck: Known for his “Tohoku Paper,” which revolutionized homological algebra, French-born Grothendieck was also awarded the prize for his advances in algebraic geometry.
34. Stephen Smale: Working in the field of differential topology, he proved the generalized Poincaré conjecture in dimension.
Turing Award
35. Alan J. Perlis: The first recipient of the A.M. Turing Award, named after Alan Turing, the father of modern computers, Perlis won the award for his pioneering efforts in early computing.
Scientists Who Died in 1966
Although science was growing rapidly, 1966 also said farewell to several great minds who contributed to scientific progress. Their theories and inventions went on to encourage the next generation of scientists to keep moving forward.
36. George de Hevesy: Working in the field of inorganic and nuclear chemistry, de Hevesy was awarded the Noble Prize in chemistry in 1943. He died on July 5, in what was West Germany.
38. Sydney Camm: An aircraft designer, Camm developed and designed planes used by the Royal Airforce during World War II. His innovations held many airplane speed records for decades.
39. Fritz Houtermans: A physicist born in Germany, he won the Noble Prize in 1925. He was known for contributing to the fields of cosmochemistry and geochemistry.
40. Sergi Korolev: Considered the founder of the Soviet space Program, Korolev developed the world’s first ballistic missile. This discovery became the basis for a type of space booster, which was used in the Russian space program for years.
Notable Scientists who were Born in 1966
Just as some great minds were lost in 1966, some were born that year as well. Here are just a few scientists and technology-driven people who were born during this eventful time.
41. Jimmy Wales: The founder of Wikipedia, Wales has stated his ultimate goal is to deliver the sum of all human knowledge to every person on the planet.
42. Ralf Altmeyer: A virologist, Altmeyer worked on drug discovery for pediatric infection diseases. He was awarded the Magnolia Silver Award by the Shanghai City Government for his contributions.
43. Grigori Perelman: A Fields Medal winner for his contributions to geometry and insights into the structure of the Ricci flow, Perelman declined the honor (he remains the only person to have ever declined). He is reported to have withdrawn from mathematics and does not speak to the media.
44. Didier Queloz: Currently a professor at the Cavendish Laboratory and Geneva University, Queloz is considered an expert in planets outside of our solar system, also called exoplanets. After discovering the first exoplanet in 1995 with Michel Mayor, over 800 more have been discovered.
Science Fiction in 1966
On the cusp of so many amazing inventions, imaginations were running wild. Science fiction combined the possibilities of technology with budding ideas to create brilliant, thought-provoking entertainment. Here are some of the standout science fiction media created or released in 1966.
Science-Fiction Films from 1966
This film, starring Peter Cushing as the Doctor, is not considered part of the Doctor Who canon. It was, however, the first Doctor Who media both made in color and filmed in widescreen.
46. Fahrenheit 451: Based off of Ray Bradbury’s book of the same name, this film is a British production. The plot centers on a fireman, trapped in a dystopian totalitarian society, who is tasked with burning all books. The film was nominated for a Golden Lion award.
47. Women of the Prehistoric Planet: Not all science fiction films were winners, of course. This bumbling story of explorers landing on another planet was so horrendous it was given the Mystery Science Theater 3000 treatment in the show's second season.
Science-Fiction Television from 1966
48. Star Trek: The original TV series was first broadcast in 1966. Science fiction fans of all ages tuned in to see Captain James T. Kirk and his crew, aboard the Starship Enterprise, exploring new worlds and meeting strange alien creatures.
Science-Fiction Books from 1966
49. Fantastic Voyage: This novel, written by prolific writer Isaac Asimov, imagined a team of men and women shrunk down to a microscopic level and tasked with entering a dying man’s body in order to remove a blood clot. Now a familiar concept in science fiction, Asimov’s book imagined a scientific advancement we still haven’t discovered.
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