• Chunnel - After several false starts and a century of planning, Great Britain and France announced the final plan to construct a tunnel under the English Channel (see 1994 for completion).
• Space Race - January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded during takeoff. The disaster was witnessed on live national television.
• Chernobyl Disaster - April 1986, the Chernobyl-4 nuclear power plant suffered a core meltdown. Design flaws in the plant and human, procedural errors caused the nuclear disaster.
Notable Deaths -
* Giro d'Italia / World Road Race Champion: Alfredo Binda (Ita), 1902-1986, an Italian “Campionissimo”. He won the Giro five time in 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1933. He was a three time World Champion in 1927, 1930, and 1932.
* World Road Race Champion: Hans Knecht (Sui), 1913-1986, the World Champion in 1946.
Georgia O'Keefe, 1887-1987, abstract artist noted for her flowers, skull and bones of the desert, and her vision of the American southwest.
Jacques Plante, 1929-1986, Canadian goaltender who led the Montreal Canadians to 6 of hockey's coveted Stanley Cups.
