Dateline

February 1

In 1884, the first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary is published, listing words from a to ant.

In 1893, Thomas Edison finishes construction of the first film studio, the Black Maria, in New Jersey, US.

February 2

Until February 21 at Adler Subhashok Gallery on Sukhumvit Soi 33, see Beyond A Shadow, an exhibition of 20 oil paintings by local contemporary artist Attasit Pokpong. The paintings capture East Asian women in a hauntingly seductive pop-art style. The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm. For more details call 02 662 0299.

In 2007, the worst flooding in Indonesia in 300 years begins, killing 80 people.

February 3

Happy Birthday to American singer-songwriter and former Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo (1956).

In 1995, astronaut Eileen Collins becomes the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle, taking off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

February 4

In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook.

In 1998, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan, killing more than 5,000 people.

February 5

In 1971, astronauts on the Apollo 14 mission land on the moon.

In 1869, the largest gold nugget in history, the Welcome Stranger, is found in Victoria, Australia. It weighs more than 76 kilogrammes.

February 6

Today and tomorrow, experience a gypsy-themed festival for the first time at Gypsy Carnival Music & Lifestyle Festival at Suan Phung, Ratchaburi province. Enjoy games, camping, food and concerts by well-known artists such as Hugo, Pongsit Kampee, Stamp, Soul After Six, Yellow Fang and many more from 10 am until late at Tonphung Farm, Suan Phung. Tickets are 1,600 baht from Thai Ticketmajor. For more information, call 02 262 3456.

February 7

In 1970, John Lennon's single "Instant Karma" is released in the UK. The song reaches the top five in the British and American singles charts, and becomes the first solo single by a member of the Beatles to sell a million copies.

In 2009, bushfires in Victoria leave 173 dead in the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history.