January 25, 1995: Launching of Russian nuclear missiles averted. Bad news: Russia’s early-warning defense radar had detected unexpected missile launch near Norway. Russian military command estimated the missile to be only minutes from impact on Moscow. Good news: Five minutes after launch detection, Russian command determined that missile’s impact point would be outside Russia’s borders. It was later determined that the missile, launched from Norway, was actually carrying instruments for scientific measurements. Nine days before, Norway had notified 35 countries, including Russia, exact details of the planned launch. Russian Defense Ministry had received Norway’s announcement but had neglected to inform on-duty personnel at early-warning center of the imminent launch!

January 25, 2005: Stampede during religious pilgrimage in India, 300+ people died.   January 25, 1999: Earthquake (6.5-magnitude) struck Colombia, 1,185 people died.

January 25, 1994: Mine fire in India, 55 miners died.

January 25, 1990: Commercial passenger plane ran out of fuel & crashed on Long Island northeast of New York City, 73 people died.

January 25, 1968: Remains of hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) found by U.S. Air Force in Greenland. B-52 Bomber had crashed & burned through thick Arctic ice. After bombs were found, it took nine months to remove all of the contaminated material including snow from crash site.

January 25, 1904: Pennsylvania coal mine explosion, 179 miners died.

January 25, 1627: Robert Boyle, Anglo-Irish chemist was born. He is best known for his pioneering experiments on properties of gases & developing modern theories regarding chemical elements.

January 25, 1394: Earthquake struck Austria, 5,000 people died.