Time Warp: 8 Unforgettable Fun Facts from Paris in 1986 That Will Make You Nostalgic!

1. Giotto's Cosmic Matchmaking

Before there was Rosetta wooing its comet, there was Giotto playing cosmic matchmaker with not one, but two icy beauties: In 1986, Giotto became the first spacecraft to encounter and image the nucleus of a comet, specifically Comet Halley, while also making history as the first spacecraft to encounter two comets by later passing just 200 kilometers from Comet Grigg-Skjellerup in 1992.
Source => esa.int

2. Hands Across America Human Chain

Before "We Are the World," there was a Wacky Wall-Walker of humanity: In 1986, approximately 5 to 6.5 million people joined hands for 15 minutes on May 25th in the ambitious but gap-filled Hands Across America human chain, raising $15 million for charities fighting hunger, homelessness, and poverty while being serenaded by the likes of Michael Jackson, Yoko Ono, and Kenny Rogers.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that a sticky WWII dilemma was solved by creating synthetic rubber in 1942? Discover how this invention kept tires rolling and lives saved!

=> Fun Facts about 1942

3. Chernobyl's Microwave Disaster

In 1986, mother nature tried her hand at microwave cooking, but things went terribly wrong: during the infamous Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, the largest uncontrolled radioactive release in history occurred, killing 30 operators and firemen within three months, with several more deaths following. This catastrophic "cooking" incident forced mankind to reevaluate safety culture and industry cooperation, creating lasting improvements across borders.
Source => world-nuclear.org

4. Kiss Condoms: Tongue and Cheeks

Talk about "Tongue and cheeks": Rock gods Kiss decided the prophylactic industry needed a bit of tongue action, and boy, did they deliver: In 1986, they launched their own condom brand in collaboration with Graphic Armor Inc. and Condomania, with Gene Simmons' notorious tongue adorning the first FDA-approved picture condom, and a textured latex "Studded Paul" set on its way later that year—proving that their merchandising prowess is just as alive and well as their rock 'n' roll spirit.
Source => grammy.com

5. The First Fashionable Computer Virus

In the days when hair was big, shoulder pads were bigger, and leggings were all the rage, a duo of daring Pakistani brothers unwittingly launched the very first computer virus fashion trend for IBM PCs: Brain was born, developed by Amjad and Basit Farooq Alvi in 1986 as an anti-piracy measure for their heart-monitoring software, it allocated seven kilobytes of memory to DOS and slowed down disk drives, while kindly requesting users to call the creators for the digital antidote—non-destructive from the start, these stylish siblings later branched out into building their own internet service provider, Brain Telecommunication Limited, which still operates today in Pakistan.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. The Cosmic Soda Taste-Test

In the great cosmic soda taste-test of 1986, Coke and Pepsi boldly bubbled where no soft drink had gone before: Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger tested out specially designed Coca-Cola and Pepsi cans during the STS-51F mission, in a quest to determine if carbonated beverages could be enjoyed in zero gravity. It turns out that while both cans successfully dispensed their fizzy contents, the astronauts experienced gastrointestinal discomfort as the gasses didn't leave their stomachs as easily in space, making this pricey experiment a one-time affair.
Source => collectspace.com

7. Samus Aran: Pixelated Heroine

Before Princess Leia rocked the gold bikini and Wonder Woman lassoed her way into people's hearts, a pixelated heroine blasted her way into gamer's lives: Metroid, the action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo, released in August 1986 in Japan, introduced the pioneering Metroidvania genre and one of the first female protagonists, Samus Aran, to the world of video games.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Tetris: The Ultimate Party Planner

In 1986, Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov must have been a spiffing swanky party planner, always finding a way to clear the room for more guests: He ingeniously decided to delete completed lines in Tetris to prevent the screen from filling up too quickly, which to this day, remains a key gameplay element and contributes to its highly addictive nature.
Source => en.wikipedia.org