Life Timeline

For those born September 9, 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 74

You were born in September 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 Honda Motor Company was founded.

In September 2010, Hampton Stevens wrote about the Honda-owned American theme park in Japan.

1966
Coming of age

Around your 18th birthday, South African Prime Minister and "Architect of Apartheid" Hendrik Verwoerd was assassinated.

In December 2013, Alan Taylor published a photo retrospective of the life of anti-Apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela.

1969

NASA

Man on the Moon

At 20 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.

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.

1994

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Contemporaries

In 1994, Samuel L. Jackson, who was born the same year as you, starred in the film Pulp Fiction, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Pulp Fiction also garnered awards for its screenplay and direction. In October 2014, Jason Bailey wrote about the film's distinct story-telling and directorial style.

2007

NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute

Across the Universe

When you turned 58, 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: