Physics
 March 18 – Woodstock of physics, the marathon session of the American Physical Society’s meeting featuring 51 presentations concerning the science of high-temperature superconductors. Harry J. Lipkin names the pentaquark. Technology
 December 1 – Channel Tunnel digging commences. Tinker Hatfield designs the Nike Air Max. Maglite introduces the 2AAA Mini Maglite flashlight, targeted for medical and industrial applications. Zoology
 June 17 – The last known purebred dusky seaside sparrow, "Orange Band", dies in Florida. Varroa destructor, an invasive parasite of honeybees, is found in the United States. Awards
 Nobel Prizes
 Physics – J. Georg Bednorz, Karl Alexander Müller
 Chemistry – Donald J. Cram, Jean-Marie Lehn, Charles J. Pedersen
 Medicine – Susumu Tonegawa
 Turing Award – John Cocke
 Wollaston Medal for Geology – Claude Jean Allègre

Births

Deaths
 March 19 – Louis de Broglie (b. 1892), French physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics (1929). March 26 – Gwyn Macfarlane (b.
Physics:
March 18 – Woodstock of physics, the marathon session of the American Physical Society ’ s meeting featuring 51 presentations concerning the science of high-temperature superconductors. Harry J. Lipkin names the pentaquark. 

Technology:
December 1 – Channel Tunnel digging commences. Tinker Hatfield designs the Nike Air Max. Maglite introduces the 2AAA Mini Maglite flashlight, targeted for medical and industrial applications. 

Zoology:
June 17 – The last known purebred dusky seaside sparrow, "Orange Band", dies in Florida. Varroa destructor, an invasive parasite of honeybees, is found in the United States. 

Awards
Nobel Prizes:
Physics – J. Georg Bednorz, Karl Alexander Müller
Chemistry – Donna J. Cram, Jean-Marie Lehn, Charles J. Pedersen
Medicine – Susumu Tonegawa
Turing Award – John Cocke
Wollaston Medal for Geology – Claude Jean Allègre

Births

Deaths:
March 19 – Louis de Broglie (b. 1892), French physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics (1929) . March 26 – Gwyn Macfarlane (b.