Life Timeline

For those born February 4, 1948.

Not your birthday? Find your timeline here.

1947
Before you were born

You're one of the first people who's never lived in a world without microwave ovens.

In April 2014, Alexis C. Madrigal defended the microwave against the growing distaste of middle class cooks.

1948
Year 75

You were born in February of 1948. This year, The Atlantic celebrates its 160th birthday, making it 2 times as old as you.

The year you were born, An Anonymous Jewish American wrote about his decision to change his clearly Jewish name.

1948
Beginnings

Around the time you were born, the Soviet-backed Communist Party overthrew the democratic government of Czechoslovakia and began its 40-year rule of the country.

In October 2013, Vladimir Dubinsky interviewed Anne Applebaum about the rise of communism in Eastern Europe after World War II.

1966
Coming of age

Around your 18th birthday, the Soviet Union launched two dogs on board the satellite Kosmos 110.

In April 2011, The Atlantic published excerpts of a speech from Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet cosmonaut and first man in space.

1969

NASA

Man on the Moon

At 21 years old, you were alive to behold people walking on the moon.

Over the years, the moon landing has come to be lauded as the pinnacle of human achievement, although it was often derided at the time. In 1963, NASA astronauts took to The Atlantic to plead the case for landing on the moon.

1978

Nick Ut / AP

Contemporaries

In 1978, Olivia Newton-John, who was born the same year as you, starred in the film Grease.

In February 2016, Sophie Gilbert wrote about the live production of Grease.

1982
Half a life ago

Your life can be divided into two halves: before and after CD players.

In October 2012, Megan Garber wrote about the CD player turning 30 years old.

2007

NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute

Across the Universe

When you turned 59, you watched humankind reach the outer solar system.

With NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission in 2005, humans landed a probe in the outer reaches of the solar system for the first time, a moment Ross Andersen called the most glorious mission in the history of planetary science.

Today
History in the making

History is happening all around you, every day.

The Atlantic is here to help you process it, in stories like these: