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- QOTW:If an alien probe dropped off a surprise cargo delivery in your backyard, what sci-fi technology are you hoping is inside?
- Question-of-the-week | Technorama Podcast
On This Day In History for Aug 5, 2026
This is the 217th day of the year, with 148 days remaining.
- We start all the way back in 1583, when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed St. John’s, Newfoundland, establishing the first English colony in North America.
- Turning to 1620, the Mayflower set sail from Southampton on its initial voyage toward North America, though a leak in its companion ship forced them to dock in Dartmouth.
- Fast forward to 1884, when workers laid the foundation for an iconic monument by setting the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
- Just four years later in 1888, Bertha Benz completed the world’s first long-distance automobile trip, driving from Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany.
- In 1914, urban driving changed forever when the first electric traffic light was installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Moving to 1926, legendary illusionist Harry Houdini performed an incredible feat, spending 91 minutes submerged in a sealed underwater tank before escaping.
- On this date in 1957, American Bandstand made its national television debut on ABC, bringing popular music and youth dance culture to millions.
- And in 1973, the Soviet Union launched Mars 6 on its mission to explore the Red Planet.
Turning to notable birthdays on this August 5th, we start by remembering those from the past:
- Danish-born Russian navigator and explorer Vitus Bering was born 345 years ago today.
- Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel came into the world 224 years ago.
- English explorer and former Governor of Jamaica Edward John Eyre was born 211 years ago today.
- Born 164 years ago in 1862 was Joseph Merrick, the English man famed for his life with severe physical deformities.
- Pioneering German chemist Carl Harries entered the world 160 years ago today.
- Renowned Brazilian physician and epidemiologist Oswaldo Cruz was born 154 years ago.
- Iconic American astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the Moon, was born 96 years ago today.
- English-American astronomer Brian G. Marsden was born 89 years ago today.
- As for those celebrating today, trailblazing American physicist Shirley Ann Jackson turns 80.
- Prominent American astrophysicist France A. Córdova is celebrating her 79th birthday.
- And beloved American actress Maureen McCormick reaches the milestone age of 70 today.
Listener Birthdays
- 6 – Fritz The German
- 6 – Julie Tomasi
- 8 – Philippa Ballantine
- 9 – Matt Coe (WoWaddict) [1991]
- 9 – Julia Posz – (Technorama Promo)
- 10 – Sam Martin
- 11 – Steve Wozniak
- 11 – David Brewer (Tyrion The Imp)
And that’s the way it was, on this day in history for Aug 5, 2026
- If you want to get on the Technorama Birthday Calendar, visit our website and look for the Birthday Calendar link.
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Remember When
- Remembering The Zilog Z80 As It Turns Fifty Years Old | Hackaday
- BASICally, Its Retro Machine Language | Hackaday
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Pass me the remote
- Chuck
- Grant (Netflix)
- Pompeii: Out of Time (with Tom Hiddleston)
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- Kreg
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Question of the week
- If humanity’s digital footprint suddenly went dark tomorrow, what single internet meme or forum post would you hope survives as our final message to the cosmos?
Patreon Topic this week
- Chuck’s coding again! Find out what he’s learning.
End of Show Stuff
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