Today is February 18: a significant day in history.
On February 18, 2014, law enforcement began the storming of Maidan, resulting in the first mass casualties among participants of the Revolution of Dignity. In 1954, science fiction writer Ronald Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology. In 1943, Goebbels delivered his famous speech about "total war." In 1930, Pluto was discovered. In 1745, Italian scientist Alessandro Volta was born, one of the "fathers" of the study of electricity. In 1516, the infamous "Bloody Mary," Queen Mary I Tudor of England, was born. In 1386, Polish Queen Jadwiga married Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila.
Holidays and Observances on February 18
February 18 is celebrated as Pluto Day worldwide.
Also today: National Thumb Appreciation Day, International Battery Day.
February 18 in History
On February 18, 1386, Polish Queen Jadwiga (legally a king, as she was a monarch and not the wife of a king) married Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila. Read more.
On February 18, 1516, future Queen of England Mary I Tudor, known historically as "Bloody Mary," was born. Read more.
On February 18, 1745, Italian scientist Alessandro Volta was born, one of the "fathers" of the study of electricity. Today marks International Battery Day, dedicated to his memory.
From a young age, Volta was curious and showed exceptional aptitude for science. His uncle, Alexander, a cathedral canon, noticed and nurtured these inclinations. He invested in the education of the boy, who did not particularly interest his parents as he was the fourth child in the family. Although he was eventually sent to study philosophy, he was much more fascinated by the natural sciences, studying Newton's works and attempting to replicate Benjamin Franklin's inventions. He was also inclined to not only learn theory but to test it practically. Gradually, Alessandro transitioned from philosophy to physics (at that time, these two fields were much closer, exploring the world around us and seeking explanations for phenomena through different methods).
By the 1770s, Volta was teaching physics at a gymnasium in Como, and in 1779, he became a professor of experimental physics at the University of Pavia, holding this position for nearly 40 years. The branches of natural science that interested Volta were diverse, including Newtonian gravitational theory and gas chemistry. However, he is remembered primarily for his interest in electricity. At that time, research in this area was rapidly gaining popularity. Scientists were exploring natural phenomena from various angles and creating a wide range of devices. They attempted to replicate each other's experiments, test theories, and either refute or develop them. Thus, Alessandro Volta's inventions were partly a continuation and partly a refutation of the discovery of "animal electricity" made by Luigi Galvani. He noted muscle contractions in a dead frog when its leg was connected to two different types of metal. Galvani believed this indicated the presence of electricity in the cells of the organism. Volta concluded that the phenomenon was due to the connection of two different metals through a conductor. Therefore, he replaced the frog's leg with ordinary paper soaked in brine and confirmed that electric current arose from the combination of metals, not from "animal electricity."
In further discussions with Galvani, Volta made a series of discoveries, and in 1800, he created his most famous device – the "Voltaic pile." This is considered the "first battery."
The design consisted of stacked discs of copper and zinc, with "pads" of flannel soaked in a weak acid solution between them. This "pyramid" was held together by glass tubes secured at the top and bottom. Such a "pile" became a source of electric current.
"Volta presented the theory of electric current and observed how electricity separates water into its constituent parts – hydrogen and oxygen. Before Volta, it was believed that electricity was produced by living beings ("animal electricity"). He discovered that electricity could be generated chemically and forced to flow moderately through a conductor in a closed circuit. He built a battery known as the 'Voltaic pile,'” lists Volta's achievements according to Engineering and Technology History Wiki. “His fame was such that in 1801, Napoleon summoned him to Paris, minting a special medal in honor of Volta. The world honored Volta by naming the unit of electric potential – the volt – after him.”
On February 18, 1930, Pluto was discovered. At that time, it was recognized as the ninth planet of the Solar System. Read more.
On February 18, 1943, Nazi Germany's chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels delivered his most famous speech at the Berlin Sports Palace, introducing the phrase "total war." Read more.
On February 18, 1954, Ronald Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles. Read more.
On February 18, 1992, Ukraine established diplomatic relations with Croatia and Uganda.
On February 18, 2014, law enforcement began the storming of Maidan, resulting in the first mass casualties among participants of the Revolution of Dignity. Read more.
Church Holiday on February 18
February 18 is the feast day of Saint Leo, Pope of Rome. Read more.
Folk Omens
If February 18 is a clear day, a good harvest is expected.
If the flood has already started, there will be a good haymaking in the summer.
If the moon is pale in the sky, there will be heavy snowfall. If it is clear, there will be frost.
What Not to Do on February 18
One should not be sad or remain in despair.
One should not wear dark-colored clothing.