1868: The U.S. Congress enacts legislation granting an eight-hour day to workers employed by the federal government
This legislation fixed the normal working hours for laborers as eight hours in all states of the American Union. This measure was taken as a step to free labor from the capitalist slavery. This legislation was influenced by the eight-hour day movement, also known as the 40-hour week movement and the short-time movement.
1678: Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia becomes the 1st woman to receive a university doctoral degree or PhD
Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia is awarded a doctorate of philosophy from the University of Padua, 1st woman to receive a university doctoral degree or Ph.D. She is also known as Helen Cornaro. She was the first woman in the world to earn a Ph.D. degree. She was 32 when she achieved this.
1903: Marie Curie announces her discovery of radium
Born on July 11, 1867, Marie Curie is known for her contribution to Chemistry and Physics. She coined the word radioactivity and part of her achievements included theories in radioactivity. She was responsible for several techniques used in isolating radioactive isotopes as well as discovering two elements; radium and polonium. Her biggest achievements include Nobel Prize in Physics (1903), Matteucci Medal (1904), Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1911), and First Woman Professor University of Paris.
