Discover · History

On this day — November 27

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

2024

Milestone

Syrian rebel groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham launch a ground offensive into Syria.

2020

Science

Iran's top nuclear scientist

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, is assassinated near Tehran.

2020

Science

Days after the announcement of its discovery

the Utah monolith is removed by recreationists.

2015

Milestone

An active shooter inside a Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs

Colorado, shoots at least four police officers. One officer later dies. Two civilians are also killed, and six injured. The shooter later surrendered.

2009

Milestone

Nevsky Express bombing

A bomb explodes on the Nevsky Express train between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, derailing it and causing 28 deaths and 96 injuries.

2008

Milestone

XL Airways Germany Flight 888T

An Airbus A320 performing a flight test crashes near the French commune of Canet-en-Roussillon, killing all seven people on board.

2006

Milestone

The House of Commons of Canada approves a motion introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognizing the Québécois as a nation within Canada.

2004

Milestone

Pope John Paul II returns the relics of Saint John Chrysostom to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

2004

Milestone

Blackwater 61 crash

A CASA C-212 Aviocar crashes into the Koh-i-Baba mountain range in Afghanistan, killing six.

2001

Science

A hydrogen atmosphere is discovered on the extrasolar planet Osiris by the Hubble Space Telescope

the first atmosphere detected on an extrasolar planet.

1999

Milestone

The centre-left Labour Party takes control of the New Zealand government with leader Helen Clark becoming the first elected female prime minister in New Zealand's history.

1997

Milestone

Twenty-five people are killed in the second Souhane massacre in Algeria.

1992

Politics

For the second time in a year

military forces try to overthrow president Carlos Andrés Pérez in Venezuela.

1989

Milestone

Avianca Flight 203

A Boeing 727 explodes in mid-air over Colombia, killing all 107 people on board and three people on the ground. The Medellín Cartel claimed responsibility for the attack.

1985

Milestone

Space Shuttle program

Atlantis launches on STS-61-B, with Rodolfo Neri Vela becoming the first Mexican astronaut.