Apple’s Macintosh is launched

January 24, 1984

THIS day, Apple Computers launched the Macintosh, the first successful mouse-driven computer with a graphic user interface. This first model was later renamed to ‘Macintosh 128k’ for uniqueness amongst a populous family of subsequently updated models which are also based on Apple’s same proprietary architecture.

The Macintosh product family has been collectively and singularly nicknamed ‘Mac’ or ‘the Mac’ since the development of the first model.

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World’s largest diamond found

Jan 25, 1905

THIS day, at the Premier Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106-carat diamond is discovered during a routine inspection by the mine’s superintendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and christened the ‘Cullinan,’ it was the largest diamond ever found.

The diamond was presented to Sir Thomas Cullinan, owner of the mine. Cullinan then sold the diamond to the Transvaal provincial government, which presented the stone to Britain’s King Edward VII as a birthday gift.

The Cullinan was later cut into nine large stones and about 100 smaller ones, valued at millions of dollars all told.

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January 27, 1888

ON this day, the National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C., for “the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge.”

The 33 men who formed the society came from a diverse group of geographers, explorers, teachers, lawyers, cartographers, military officers and financiers.

In the earlier months of its inception, National Geographic magazine’s readership did not grow, however, until Gilbert H. Grosvenor took over as editor in 1899 and only after a few years, the circulation boosted from 1,000 to two million. National Geographic quickly became known for its stunning and pioneering photography, being the first to print natural-colour photos of sky, sea and the North and South Poles.

And today, with a circulation of around nine million, the National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions.