Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 May 30

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Today's featured article
Louis Slotin (1910–1946) was a Canadian physicist and chemist who took part in the Manhattan Project, the secret U.S. program during World War II that developed the atomic bomb. As part of the Manhattan Project, Slotin performed experiments with uranium and plutonium cores to determine their critical mass values. During World War II, Slotin continued his research at Los Alamos National Laboratory. On 21 May 1946, Slotin accidentally began a fission reaction, which released a burst of hard radiation. He was rushed to a hospital, and died of radiation sickness nine days later on 30 May, the second victim of a criticality accident in history. Slotin was hailed as a hero by the United States government for reacting quickly enough to prevent the deaths of his colleagues due to the accident he caused. The accident and its aftermath have been dramatized in fictional accounts. (more...) Recently featured: Timor Leste Defence Force – "The Last Temptation of Krust" – Kuiper belt Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the Soviet A-35 anti-ballistic missile system had a radar nicknamed the Dog House (pictured)? ... that William Addams Williams, the MP for Monmouthshire, ensured that newspapers were notified when they incorrectly listed his votes? ... that the Norwegian footballer Steffen Hagen has played every minute of 100 consecutive league-matches for Odd Grenland in Tippeligaen? ... that prepatellar bursitis is also called "coal miner's knee"? ... that in 567 BC Duke Ling of Qi annexed the neighbouring state of Lai, more than doubling the size of the state of Qi? ... that Wojciech Smarzowski's film Róża gained the Polish Film Award in seven categories in 2011? ... that at St Athan, a wild fig tree grew out of the cement of the East Orchard chapel walls? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
The discovery of Flame, a complex malware program targeting computers in Middle Eastern countries, is announced. Love, directed by Michael Haneke (pictured), wins the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In motorsport, Dario Franchitti wins the Indianapolis 500. In cycling, Ryder Hesjedal wins the Giro d'Italia, becoming the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour. In cricket, the Indian Premier League concludes with the Kolkata Knight Riders defeating the Chennai Super Kings in the final. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 30: Lod Massacre Remembrance Day in Puerto Rico 1814 – The War of the Sixth Coalition ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which deposed Napoleon and restored Louis XVIII (pictured) to the French throne. 1899 – Female Old West outlaw Pearl Hart performed one of the last recorded stagecoach robberies 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Globe, Arizona. 1925 – Shanghai Municipal Police officers opened fire on Chinese protesters in the city's International Settlement, giving rise to a major labor and anti-imperialist movement. 1959 – The Auckland Harbour Bridge, joining St Marys Bay in Auckland with Northcote in the former North Shore City, New Zealand, was officially opened. 1972 – Members of the Japanese Red Army carried out the Lod Airport massacre in Tel Aviv, Israel, on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, killing over 20 people and injuring almost 80 others. More anniversaries: May 29 – May 30 – May 31 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 30, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" rock formation in the Wadi Rum valley of Jordan. It is named after British Army officer T. E. Lawrence's autobiography of the same name, which details events that took place in the area during the Arab Revolt of 1916–18, although the rocks have nothing to do with the book itself. The area is now one of Jordan's important tourist destinations.

Photo: Tomobe03

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