Wishing a joyful 76th birthday to Peter Gabriel, the iconic English singer-songwriter renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to progressive rock music. At the age of 17, he took a pivotal step by founding the band Genesis, which paved the way for an illustrious solo career that has earned him six Grammy Awards.
Gabriel burst onto the scene with his first hit, “Solsbury Hill,” but it was his monumental 1986 single “Sledgehammer” that truly made waves. This chart-topping sensation, accompanied by an innovative stop-motion claymation video, won a remarkable nine MTV Awards and became the most frequently played music video of all time. The album “So,” which features unforgettable tracks such as “Big Time,” “In Your Eyes,” “Red Rain,” and the beautiful duet “Don’t Give Up” with Kate Bush, achieved 5x platinum status, showcasing Gabriel’s remarkable artistry.
A passionate advocate for social justice, Gabriel has been a prominent anti-apartheid activist, highlighted in his poignant song “Biko.” In 2007, he co-founded The Elders alongside Richard Branson, a group of esteemed global leaders that was inaugurated with the support of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, aiming to promote world peace and positive change.
On this uplifting day, let’s also celebrate some fascinating milestones from history:
Twenty-two years ago, astronomers made an incredible announcement regarding the discovery of the universe’s largest known ‘diamond.’ Spanning an astonishing 2,300 miles and containing a staggering 10 billion trillion trillion carats, this cosmic marvel, known as Lucy—after the Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”—is the remnant of a white dwarf star located in the constellation of Centaurus. As such stars cool down, their carbon and oxygen materials crystallize, creating a dazzling appearance akin to that of a diamond.
While diamonds on Earth are often small and rare, in the vast expanse of the Milky Way, they can be abundant, forming the building blocks of celestial phenomena. The existence of lakes of molten diamond has even been theorized to explain certain jet black diamonds found on Earth, known as carbonados, further emphasizing the wonders of our universe.
Additionally, 59 years ago today, Dr. Jules Piccus from the University of Massachusetts made a remarkable discovery of the Madrid Codices I–II in Spain’s National Library. These precious manuscripts, penned by the genius Leonardo da Vinci, were transported to Spain by sculptor Pompeo Leoni during the reign of Philip II. After a series of ownership changes, they were ultimately housed in the monastic library of El Escorial, remaining undiscovered for 252 years.
The two volumes, encased in red leather and containing 197 pages, explore diverse topics including mechanics, statics, geometry, and fortification construction. UNESCO describes this work as a testament to da Vinci’s extraordinary creativity, as he addresses engineering challenges with insights that were remarkably advanced, anticipating innovations that emerged many years later.
On this day, let’s celebrate creativity, innovation, and the enduring impacts of remarkable individuals like Peter Gabriel and Leonardo da Vinci!
