It’s August 11, and today we explore moons and murders, innovation and infamy, and a few moments where truth was stranger than fiction. From Mars to mass movements… from Airbnb to animation… this day is anything but ordinary.
๐ช 1877 โ Moon of Mars ‘Deimos’ Discovered
We begin far from Earth.
On this day in 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Deimos, one of Mars’s two moons.
It’s small, jagged, and orbiting quietly in the Martian sky โ named after the Greek spirit of terror.
๐ If you could name a moon, what would you call it?
๐๏ธ 1914 โ Animation Patented
Back on Earth, imagination took motion.
John Wray patented animation on this day, laying the foundation for moving drawings that would one day bring us Steamboat Willie, Looney Tunes, and Pixar.
๐จ What was the first animated film you ever loved?
๐ฉ๐ช 1919 โ Weimar Constitution Proclaimed
In Germany, a new republic was born.
The Weimar Constitution was officially proclaimed, promising freedom and democracy.
But with inflation, unrest, and extremism, the republic’s hope would soon give way to horror.
โ๏ธ Do you think democracy can survive without stability?
๐ฝ๏ธ 1924 โ First Presidential Newsreel Filmed
In a U.S. media milestone โ
August 11, 1924, saw the first presidential candidates filmed for newsreels, forever merging politics and the screen.
From campaign stumps to TikTok, it all started here.
๐ฏ๏ธ 1942 โ Mass Killing in Zelรณw, Poland
In World War II, tragedy unfolded.
On this day, the SS began exterminating the Jewish population of Zelรณw, near ลรณdลบ, Poland.
By the end of September, 3,500 lives were lost.
๐ฏ๏ธ Have you ever visited a Holocaust memorial? What stayed with you?
๐น๐ฉ 1960 โ Chad Gains Independence
A moment of liberation โ
On August 11, 1960, Chad declared independence from France, joining the wave of African nations reclaiming their futures.
What do you think matters most to building a new nation โ leadership or unity?
๐ฎ๐ท 1980 โ Mohammad Ali Rajai Becomes Iran’s Prime Minister
In the wake of revolution, Mohammad Ali Rajai was appointed Prime Minister of Iran.
He led during a time of ideological upheaval and war.
His leadership would be brief โ but pivotal.
โ ๏ธ 1988 โ Al-Qaeda Founded
Darkness took root.
On this day in 1988, Al-Qaeda was officially founded in Peshawar, Pakistan, by Osama bin Laden and others.
It would soon become one of the most infamous terror networks in history.
๐ฃ Do you remember where you were the first time you heard the name “Al-Qaeda”?
๐ญ 1989 โ Voyager 2 Spots Neptune’s Rings
But out in space, beauty persisted.
NASA’s Voyager 2 captured images of two faint rings around Neptune, expanding our understanding of the solar system’s edge.
๐ช Isn’t it wild that we’ve photographed something 2.7 billion miles away?
โ๏ธ 1990 โ Morocco and Egypt Send Troops to Saudi Arabia
As tensions rose in the Gulf, troops from Morocco and Egypt landed in Saudi Arabia.
It was a show of unity โ and the first sign that the world was preparing for war in the region.
๐ก 2008 โ Airbnb Is Founded
On this day in 2008, Airbnb was founded by three friends who rented out an air mattress.
Today, it’s a multi-billion-dollar platform that’s reshaped how we travel.
๐๏ธ Would you rather stay in a hotel โ or someone’s home?
๐ 2017 โ Real-Life Killer Writes About His Crime
In a jaw-dropping twist โ
Chinese novelist Liu Yongbiao was arrested after writing a book loosely based on the real murders he committed in the 1990s.
He titled it: The Beautiful Writer Who Killed.
๐ Have you ever read a book and later learned the author had a criminal secret?
๐ Famous Birthdays on August 11
- 1943 โ Pervez Musharraf โ Former President of Pakistan
- 1950 โ Steve Wozniak โ Co-founder of Apple
- 1953 โ Hulk Hogan โ Wrestling icon and cultural legend
- 1965 โ Viola Davis โ Oscar-winning actress known for raw, powerful performances
๐ฏ๏ธ Notable Deaths on August 11
- 1919 โ Andrew Carnegie โ Steel tycoon turned philanthropist
- 1994 โ Peter Cushing โ British horror film icon, Van Helsing in Dracula
- 2014 โ Robin Williams โ Beloved actor, comedian, and emotional force. Gone, but never forgotten.
That’s August 11.
From Mars’s smallest moon to Neptune’s hidden rings…
From creativity’s rise to tragedy’s shadow…
This day carried both the bizarre and the profound.
๐ฌ Which moment from today hit you hardest โ Deimos? Robin Williams? Airbnb’s humble start?