René Descartes (born March 31, 1596, and died February 11, 1650) was an influential French philosopher and mathematician. Considered the father of modern philosophy for his method of systematic doubt and the principle "I think, therefore I am", he revolutionized science by founding analytical geometry.
Franz Joseph Haydn (born March 31, 1732, and died May 31, 1809) was a master of Austrian classicism. Known as the "Father of the Symphony", his vast body of work established the fundamental structures of Western classical music, exerting a decisive influence on Mozart and Beethoven.
Robert Bunsen (born March 31, 1811, and died August 16, 1899) was a genius German chemist. A pioneer of spectroscopy and discoverer of cesium and rubidium, his practical legacy endures in every laboratory worldwide through the famous "Bunsen Burner".
João de Andrade Corvo (born March 31, 1813, and died March 16, 1890) was a distinguished Portuguese statesman, diplomat, and scientist. As Foreign Minister, he was crucial in the modernization of Portugal's politics, combining public service with a relevant contribution to national agronomy and literature.
Nikolai Przhevalsky (born March 31, 1839, and died October 20, 1888) was an intrepid Russian explorer and naturalist. His epic expeditions through Central Asia revealed to Western science numerous unknown species, including the famous Przewalski's horse.
Sir Lawrence Bragg (born March 31, 1890, and died July 1, 1971) was a pioneering Australian-British physicist. At age 25, he became the youngest-ever scientific Nobel laureate for formulating Bragg's Law, the cornerstone of X-ray crystallography.
Shin-ichiro Tomonaga (born March 31, 1906, and died July 8, 1979) was a Nobel Prize-winning Japanese physicist. His pioneering work in developing the basic principles of quantum electrodynamics was essential for understanding high-energy subatomic interactions.
Joan Feynman (born March 31, 1927, and died July 21, 2020) was a brilliant American astrophysicist. Renowned for her discoveries on the origin of auroras and her crucial research on solar activity and its impacts on NASA space missions.
Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934, and died March 29, 2025) was a celebrated American actor. World-famous as the "King of the Miniseries", he immortalized himself in massive hits and television epics like "Shōgun", "The Thorn Birds", and "Dr. Kildare", becoming one of the most beloved faces on screen in the 20th century.
Carlo Rubbia (b. 1934) is a notable Italian physicist and Nobel laureate. As a central figure at CERN, he led the historic team that discovered the subatomic W and Z particles in 1983, fundamental for understanding the weak nuclear force in the universe.
Christopher Walken (b. 1943) is a legendary and magnetic American actor. Winner of an Academy Award for his chilling performance in the acclaimed "The Deer Hunter", his unmistakable voice, eccentric presence, and immense talent have cemented him as one of the most captivating and versatile figures in Hollywood history.
Al Gore (b. 1948) is a prominent American politician and environmental activist. US Vice President from 1993 to 2001, he became a global voice in the fight against climate change, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his impact on worldwide ecological awareness.
Cristóvão Chume (b. 1968) is an experienced Mozambican military leader and politician. As Minister of National Defense, he is in charge of the country's complex security strategy, focusing on modernizing the Armed Forces and international cooperation to ensure territorial stability.
Ewan McGregor (b. 1971) is a versatile Scottish actor. Internationally acclaimed for roles in "Trainspotting" and as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in the "Star Wars" saga, his career is marked by a chameleon-like ability to move between auteur cinema and Hollywood blockbusters.
Lee Jun-seok (b. 1985) is a disruptive South Korean political leader. Becoming the youngest leader of a major conservative party in the country, his rhetoric focused on individual liberalism and strong digital presence have deeply shaken South Korea's traditional bipartisanship.
Signed between King Fernando I of Portugal and Henry II of Castile on March 31, 1371, this treaty ended the first Fernandine War, establishing peace between the two kingdoms during a time of high tension in the Iberian Peninsula.
On March 31, 1821, the Tribunal of the Holy Office (Inquisition) was formally abolished in Portugal by decree of the General Extraordinary and Constituent Cortes, marking the end of nearly three centuries of religious persecution, censorship, and institutional terror in the country.
On March 31, 1851, French physicist Léon Foucault demonstrated his famous pendulum at the Panthéon in Paris. The visible rotation of the pendulum's plane of oscillation offered, for the first time in history, direct and elegant physical proof of the Earth's rotation.
On March 31, 1889, Gustave Eiffel inaugurated the tower named after him in Paris, hoisting the French flag at the top. Originally built for the World's Fair, it became the supreme symbol of French engineering and the world skyline.
On March 31, 1952, a tragic landslide caused a train derailment on the Cascais Line, near the Gibalta Lighthouse in Lisbon. The disaster claimed 10 lives and injured 38 others, becoming etched in national railway memory as the Gibalta Tragedy.
On March 31, 1966, the Soviet Union successfully launched the Luna 10 probe. This historic mission became Humanity's first artificial satellite to orbit the Moon, sending vital data about the lunar magnetic and gravitational environment.
On March 31, 1989, scientists revealed the discovery of a 150-million-year-old fossil egg in Utah (USA). Analyzed via CT scan, it revealed the oldest intact dinosaur embryo known to date, revolutionizing reproductive paleontology.
Observed in Portugal since 2003, the National Stroke Patient Day aims to raise public awareness about stroke prevention, promoting the rapid identification of symptoms and underlining the importance of rehabilitation and integration of survivors.
Created in 2011, World Backup Day raises awareness for the vital importance of protecting digital data, encouraging users and businesses to create backup copies to prevent the irreversible loss of personal and professional information.
Established in Portugal in 2020 (marking the abolition of the Holy Office in 1821), this day serves to remember and honor all those persecuted by the Inquisition, promoting reflection on religious intolerance and the defense of human rights.