1978
Transportation
United States
GPS satellite navigation
The first Navstar satellites launch, later giving civilians global positioning.
Why it mattered
Precise location and timing became free infrastructure.
Information Age
1978
2 recorded milestones at this point in the record.
1978
Medicine
Britain
In vitro fertilisation
Louise Brown was born after work by Steptoe, Edwards and embryologist Jean Purdy.
Why it mattered
Made conception possible for millions of infertile couples.
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