March 14 in Local History

2026

• On this day in 1995, Norman Thagard made history as the first American astronaut to ride to space aboard a Russian launch vehicle. Talk about a cosmic collaboration! This milestone not only marked a significant achievement in space exploration but also highlighted the growing partnership between the U.S. and Russia in the realm of science and discovery. Fast forward to 2017, when a naming ceremony for the chemical element nihonium took place in Tokyo, graced by the presence of then Crown Prince Naruhito. It’s not every day that a new element gets a royal nod! Nihonium, named after Japan, is a testament to the country’s contributions to the periodic table and scientific advancement. What a way to celebrate chemistry!

  From the 2026-03-14 edition