Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system, is discovered by the team of Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory.

Police arrest seven suspects in connection with Wood Green ricin plot.

Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone.

Washington state executes Westley Allan Dodd by hanging (the last legal hanging in America).

The oil tanker ''MV Braer'' runs aground on the coast of the Shetland Islands, spilling 84,700 tons of crude oil.

Cambodia is renamed the Democratic Kampuchea by the Khmer Rouge.

The Tasman Bridge in Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier ''Lake Illawarra'', killing twelve people.

An earthquake in Lima, Peru, kills six people, and damages hundreds of houses.

U.S. President Richard Nixon orders the development of a space shuttle program.

Members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary damage property and assault occupants in the Bogside in Derry, Northern Ireland. In response, residents erect barricades and establish Free Derry.

Alexander Dubček comes to power: "Prague Spring" begins in Czechoslovakia.

The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland.

The ''Daily Mail'' becomes the first transoceanic newspaper.

FM radio is demonstrated to the Federal Communications Commission for the first time.

Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay.

Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States.

The ''Free Committee for a German Workers Peace'', which would become the Nazi party, is founded.

The Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor.

First Balkan War: During the Naval Battle of Lemnos, Greek admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis forces the Turkish fleet to retreat to its base within the Dardanelles, from which it did not venture for the rest of the war.

The Prague Party Conference takes place.

Kappa Alpha Psi, the Worlds second oldest and largest black fraternity is founded at Indiana University.

Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama.

Irish leader John Edward Redmond calls for a revolt against British rule.

An Austrian newspaper reports that Wilhelm Roentgen has discovered a type of radiation later known as X-rays.

Dreyfus Affair: French army officer Alfred Dreyfus is stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island.

Preston North End is declared winner of the original football league.

The San Francisco steamer sinks, killing 300 people.

The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Territory with the United Kingdom.

American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.

George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis.

Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert–François Damiens, the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering, the traditional and gruesome form of capital punishment used for regicides.

Battle of Colmar: the French army beats Brandenburg.

A great fire occurs in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Felix Manz, a leader of the Anabaptist congregation in Zürich, is executed by drowning.

Duke Ludovico Sforza conquers Milan.

Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France.

Charles I of Bohemia was crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan.