Wikipedia:Main Page history/2013 January 21

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

The 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash was an accident on January 21, 1968, involving a United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 bomber. The aircraft was carrying four B28 nuclear bombs (examples pictured) on a Cold War "Chrome Dome" alert mission over Baffin Bay when a cabin fire forced the crew to abandon the aircraft before they could carry out an emergency landing at Thule Air Base. Six crew members ejected safely, but one who did not have an ejection seat was killed while trying to bail out. The bomber crashed onto sea ice in North Star Bay, Greenland, causing the nuclear payload to rupture and disperse, which resulted in localised radioactive contamination. The United States and Denmark launched an intensive clean-up and recovery operation. USAF Strategic Air Command "Chrome Dome" operations were discontinued immediately after the incident, safety procedures were reviewed and more stable explosives were developed for use in nuclear weapons. Workers involved in the clean-up program have been campaigning for compensation for radiation-related illnesses they subsequently experienced. (Full article...)

Recently featured: First inauguration of Barack Obama – U2 3D – "Over There"

Archive – By email – More featured articles...

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's newest content:

... that Harris's antelope squirrel (pictured) doesn't sweat, but instead salivates in order to keep cool?

... that Napoleon III, Emperor of France, bought the American ironclad Dunderberg in 1867 over the objections of his own navy, which preferred a home-built ship?

... that Canadian singer Justin Bieber holds the record for the most consecutive weeks at number-one on the Billboard Social 50 with 24?

... that Hurricane Debbie in September 1961 produced record-breaking winds across parts of Ireland, gusting up to 114 mph (183 km/h) off the coast of Arranmore?

... that journalist Roberto Javier Mora García was stabbed 26 times and killed, allegedly for reporting on the Mexican drug cartels?

... that the former "Nazi proconsul" Rudolf Rahn confirmed there had been a German plot to kidnap Pope Pius XII?

... that Alfred Jeacocke nearly had to stop playing cricket for Surrey because he lived on the wrong side of the road?

Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news

After hundreds of workers are taken hostage in an attack at a gas facility near In Aménas, Algeria, a subsequent raid by Algerian forces results in dozens of fatalities.

Boeing 787 aircraft (pictured) are grounded worldwide over concerns about the safety of their lithium-ion batteries.

Sri Lankan Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake is dismissed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following her contested impeachment.

In the Central African Republic, the government signs a ceasefire agreement with rebels, ending a month of conflict and establishing a new coalition government.

Recent deaths: Taihō Kōki – Stan Musial – Pauline Phillips

Syrian civil war – Wikinews – More current events...

On this day...

January 21: Feast Day of Saint Agnes (Christianity); Flag Day in Quebec; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States (2013)

1525 – The Anabaptist Movement was born when founders Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, and George Blaurock re-baptized each other and other followers in Zürich, Switzerland, believing that the Christian religious practice of infant baptism is invalid because a child cannot commit to a religious faith.

1789 – The Power of Sympathy by William Hill Brown, widely considered to be the first American novel, was published.

1972 – Tripura, part of the former independent Twipra Kingdom, became a full-fledged state in India.

1976 – The Concorde supersonic transports (pictured) began scheduled commercial flights to London, Paris, Bahrain, and Rio de Janeiro.

2011 – A protest in Tirana to protest the alleged corruption of the Albanian government, led to the killings of three demonstrators by the Republican Guard.

More anniversaries: January 20 – January 21 – January 22

Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries

It is now January 21, 2013 (UTC) – Refresh this page

From today's featured list

The Grammy Award for Best Polka Album was presented to recording artists for quality polka albums at the Grammy Awards, an annual ceremony hosted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences that recognizes "artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position". Originally called the Grammy Award for Best Polka Recording, the honor was first presented to Frankie Yankovic at the 28th Grammy Awards in 1987. The category was renamed in 1992 and retired in 2009. Jimmy Sturr holds the record for the most wins in this category, with eighteen (including six as the leader of the group known as Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra). Walter Ostanek (pictured) received the award three times consecutively, and the band Brave Combo was presented the award twice. (Full list...)

Recently featured: Current sovereign monarchs – Fatal Formula One accidents – Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office

Archive – More featured lists...

Today's featured picture

The Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) is a large species of frogmouth found throughout the Australian mainland, Tasmania, and southern New Guinea. Unlike the owl for which it is often mistaken, the Tawny Frogmouth is not a bird of prey. Instead, it is almost exclusively insectivorous. For defense, it relies on cryptic camouflage, standing still to appear part of a branch.

Photo: Benjamint444

Recently featured: U.S. federal government in 1862 – St. Michael's Cathedral, Izhevsk, Russia – Schematic of a piano

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.