On October 29, 1390, Paris witnessed its first official witchcraft trial, a case that marked the beginning of Europe’s long and dark history of witch hunts. The accused was Jehanne de Brigue, also known as “La Cordière,” a woman reputed for her healing abilities and use of charms. Authorities charged her with sorcery and invoking the devil, claims largely rooted in fear and superstition rather than proof. Jehanne’s trial reflected a growing anxiety in late medieval Europe, where unexplained events and illness were often blamed on witchcraft.

The proceedings were severe and symbolic of a shift in how society viewed “magic.” Jehanne’s knowledge of herbs and potions—once seen as folk healing—was now considered dangerous and unholy. The court, led by the University of Paris’ theologians, sought to root out what they called “demonic influence,” blending religion and law into a powerful tool of control.

Her confession, likely forced through torture and intimidation, led to her execution. This tragic event paved the way for thousands of future witch trials across Europe. What began as one case in Paris would, over the next centuries, evolve into widespread persecution, especially against women who defied social norms or practiced traditional healing.

The 1390 Paris witchcraft trial remains a grim reminder of how fear and misunderstanding can fuel injustice. It was less about real sorcery—and more about society’s struggle with change, control, and the unknown.

On October 29, 1998, John Glenn, America’s first astronaut to orbit Earth, returned to space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery—at 77 years old. This made him the oldest person ever to travel to space, nearly 36 years after his historic 1962 mission on Friendship 7. Glenn’s journey was part of NASA’s STS-95 mission, designed to study the effects of space travel on aging and human physiology.

His participation bridged two generations of space exploration: the early Cold War era of rockets and capsules, and the modern shuttle program. Glenn underwent rigorous training to ensure he could withstand the physical challenges, proving that age did not have to limit human exploration. During the nine-day mission, he orbited Earth 134 times and took part in various biomedical experiments comparing his body’s responses to those of younger astronauts.

The public was captivated. Crowds gathered at Kennedy Space Center to watch his launch, seeing it as a full-circle moment in American space history. Glenn’s presence inspired a new wave of enthusiasm for NASA and showed the world that curiosity and courage know no age limit.

When Discovery touched down safely, John Glenn had once again made history. His second flight reaffirmed not only his personal legacy but also the enduring human spirit that drives us to explore the unknown—at any stage of life.

Space Burp🪐
Astronauts can't burp in space because there's no gravity to separate gas from liquids in their stomachs. Without gravity, gas and liquid stay mixed - attempting to burp results in "wet burps" where astronauts vomit a little, so they just endure the discomfort until the gas passes through their system the other way.

120 Year Old Bulb💡
The world's oldest functioning light bulb has been burning since 1901 without being turned off. The Centennial Light in a California fire station has been on continuously for over 120 years - it's only 4 watts now but still glowing, outlasting millions of modern bulbs.

Immortal Jellyfish🪼
There's a species of jellyfish that is biologically immortal and can age backwards. Turritopsis dohrnii can revert to its juvenile polyp stage after reaching sexual maturity, essentially aging in reverse - it can theoretically live forever by repeatedly transforming back to youth, though most get eaten first.

Illegal Bread🍞
Sliced bread was banned in the US for three months in 1943 to save metal for WWII. The government banned pre-sliced bread to conserve wax paper and metal used in slicing machines - housewives were so outraged by having to slice bread manually that the ban was lifted after 12 weeks due to public fury.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past.