September 24 is celebrated as World Cancer Research Day, International Caravan Day, World Day Against Software Patents.
On September 24, 1941, a “fire tornado” took place in Kyiv – the most tragic episode, which went down in history as one of the most destructive acts of the Second World War on the territory of Ukraine.
World Cancer Research Day
World Cancer Research Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of scientific research in the fight against cancer. It is a day when the medical community, patients and charities focus on the advances in cancer research and the need to further develop methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this disease.
World Cancer Research Day was established in 2016 at the initiative of the European Association of Cancer Research (EACR) and other international organizations to draw attention to the importance of scientific research. The main goal of this day is to inform the public about the need to fund cancer research, support scientific projects and attract new specialists to this field of medicine.
Interesting facts
In recent years, immunotherapy has become one of the most promising areas of cancer treatment. This method activates the patient’s immune system to fight the malignant cells. For example, the use of checkpoint inhibitors has led to long-term remissions in patients with melanoma and lung cancer.
Modern research in the field of genetics helps to understand the individual characteristics of each patient’s cancer cells. This opens up new opportunities for a personalized approach to treatment, where therapy is selected taking into account the genetic mutations of a particular tumor.
Scientists are actively working on creating new tests to detect cancer in the early stages. For example, a liquid biopsy allows detecting even the smallest traces of cancer cells in the blood, which contributes to early diagnosis and improved treatment results.
CAR-T therapy uses the patient’s modified T cells to attack cancer cells. This innovative therapy has shown impressive results in the treatment of some forms of leukemia and lymphoma, even in patients who have not responded to other treatments.
Clinical trials are an important part of the process of introducing new treatment methods. They allow testing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and methods on a large number of patients. Every year, thousands of people participate in such research, contributing to the development of science and helping future generations to receive more effective treatment.
International Caravan Day
This day is dedicated to caravanners, professional drivers and caravanners as a way of life. The holiday aims to emphasize the importance of caravans as a cultural phenomenon, a symbol of freedom and travel.
Caravan Day was launched in 2009 to celebrate those who travel the world in mobile homes or caravans, bringing the nomadic spirit into the modern age. It has become a symbol of unity and mutual understanding between people from different cultures and countries who choose life on wheels.
Interesting facts
In the Middle Ages, caravanserai (inns for caravans) were important centers not only for the relaxation of travelers, but also for the exchange of cultural traditions, knowledge and goods. These places became centers of communication and commerce along the Silk Road.
Caravans, as mobile homes, have become popular among people seeking a more sustainable lifestyle. Modern caravans are often equipped with solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems and other eco-friendly technologies to reduce environmental impact.
Caravanning has become a lifestyle for many people, especially in Europe and the USA. Traveling on caravans, people choose independence from hotels and routes, discovering new places and enjoying nature.
In 2021, the record for the longest caravan in the world was set in Australia. About 1,500 caravans gathered in the state of Queensland, forming a 12-kilometer column. This underlines the popularity of caravans among Australians who prefer to travel without being tied down to hotels or cities.
In Ukraine, the popularity of caravans is also growing. The number of tourists traveling around the country in their own mobile homes is increasing every year. Routes along the Carpathians are especially popular, where you can enjoy the mountains and natural beauty without limiting yourself to one place.
World Day Against Software Patents
This day is aimed at drawing attention to the problems related to software patenting. This day is designed to protect programmers and developers from the negative consequences of the patent system, which limits innovation and development in the field of information technologies.
Anti-Software Patent Day was initiated by international organizations such as the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) and other activists to draw attention to the importance of open access to software. The idea is that software patents limit the development of the IT field, hindering new developments and creating legal barriers for small companies and independent developers.
Interesting facts
One of the biggest problems in the industry are the so-called patent trolls – companies that do not create their own products, but buy patents and sue developers for “infringing” patent rights. This often leads to lengthy and expensive litigation that paralyzes the work of small companies and startups.
There is a perception that software patents stifle innovation. In countries where software patenting is allowed, developers face restrictions that prevent the implementation of new ideas. For example, in the US, software patents can create legal barriers to creating software products that use similar algorithms or methods.
The open software movement opposes patenting because it believes that knowledge should be available to all. Programmers creating open source programs share their developments with others, which contributes to the development of new technologies and increases competitiveness.
Software patenting remains a controversial issue in the European Union. Although European patent law prohibits patents on “computer programs as such”, courts sometimes recognize the validity of such patents if the software has a technical effect.
The absence of software patents promotes the free exchange of knowledge and faster industry development. Open source software, such as Linux, Python and others, are clear examples of the success of a model where patents do not hinder development, but on the contrary, contribute to the joint creation of new products.
Historical events on this day
1815 — unexpected dismissal of Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
On September 24, 1815, Prince Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, known as the “lame devil”, one of the most influential diplomats of his time, unexpectedly for himself and others, was dismissed from the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs by King Louis XVIII. This decision caused quite a stir, because Talleyrand was a political figure who was considered practically “unsinkable”: he served during the Directory, was a minister under Napoleon, and later under Louis XVIII.
Later it became known that the decision to get rid of the experienced diplomat was made under the pressure of the Russian Emperor Alexander I and the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. They were outraged that in early 1815 Talleyrand organized a secret agreement between Austria, England and France directed against Russia and Prussia. At the same time, it is possible that the entourage of Louis XVIII wanted to get rid of all former associates of Napoleon.
Talleyrand, however, was not too upset about his dismissal. His famous phrase “The Bourbons have forgotten nothing and learned nothing” became a kind of summary of his views on the political situation in France at the time. A few years later, the country experienced a revolution again, and Louis-Philippe, a representative of the Orleans branch of the Bourbons, came to power. The new king again turned to Talleyrand, and he returned to public service.
The outstanding diplomat left behind not only a bright mark in history, but also many witty aphorisms that are still relevant today:
“Money doesn’t smell.”
“Whole nations would be horrified if they knew what little people rule them.”
“Betrayal is a matter of giving. To betray in time means to predict.”
“In politics, what people believe is more important than what is true.”
“Roll in their feet… but never in their hands.”
“War is too serious a matter to be entrusted to the military.”
“The nation is worthy of its ruler.”
“If you’re not a radical at 18, you’re a mean person, and if you’re not a conservative at 40, you’re a fool.”
“Some positions are like steep cliffs: only eagles and reptiles can climb them.”
“Coffee should be hot as hell, black as the devil, pure as an angel, and sweet as love.”
When Talleyrand died, many joked: “Prince Talleyrand is dead! I wonder why he needed it?”. This ironic comment sums up the attitude of his contemporaries to the unsurpassed master of intrigue and political combinations, who always knew how to find his way even in the most difficult circumstances.
1852 – the first flight of an airship with a steam engine by Henri Giffard
In 1852, the French engineer and inventor Henri Giffard made a historic flight in the world’s first airship with a steam engine. Jiffar designed an aircraft 44 meters long and 2,500 cubic meters in volume, which was cigar-shaped and equipped with a 3-horsepower steam engine. His airship was capable of reaching speeds of up to 10 km/h. The flight took place on September 24 on the route from Paris to Trappes in France. Despite the fact that control during flight was difficult due to a weak engine, this experiment was a significant step forward in the development of aeronautics. Giffard’s airship demonstrated that aircraft could be controlled, which opened new perspectives for further developments in this field.
1869 – “Black Friday” on the American gold market
On September 24, 1869, an unprecedented panic broke out in the US financial market, known as “Black Friday”. This event was the result of an attempt by two speculators, Jay Gould and James Fisk, to make a massive purchase of gold bullion in order to artificially raise the price of gold and obtain excess profits. They began to buy gold in large quantities, hoping that the government would not intervene in the market. However, when gold prices began to soar, U.S. Treasury Secretary George Boutwell ordered large reserves of government gold to be released into the market to stabilize the situation. This decision led to a sharp collapse in prices, causing huge losses to many investors, and also caused numerous bankruptcies. “Black Friday” became a symbol of the dangers of financial fraud and a reminder of the need for state control over the market.
1941 – The beginning of the “infernal autumn” or “fire tornado” in Kyiv was chronologically moved to the second city
On September 24, 1941, a special operation of the NKVD of the USSR called “Hell’s Autumn” or “Fiery Tornado” began in Kyiv, which was occupied by German troops. The purpose of the operation was to destroy residential buildings and key infrastructure facilities of the city, which were mined in advance by Soviet saboteurs.
After the Nazis entered the city and placed their headquarters and commander’s office in the buildings on Khreschatyk, the Soviet special services activated the previously mined objects. The first explosion thundered at 15:00 and destroyed “Dytyachi svit” and the former confectionery on Khreshchatyk Street 27 and 28/2, where the headquarters of the 454th Security Division and the reception point for radio receivers and gas masks were located. The blast wave also damaged the “Spartak” hotel, which housed the German commandant’s office.
Further, a chain reaction led to the detonation of several more buildings, which began to explode one by one throughout Khreschatyk. The explosions and the fires caused by them ignited the entire central part of the city. The German fire brigades were powerless as their fire hoses had been deliberately damaged. The fire quickly spread to other buildings, because most of the houses had wooden floors and basements where firewood, coal and kerosene were stored.
The Nazis organized the evacuation of residents of the central areas, trying to stop the spread of the fire, and even blew up several buildings. But these measures could not stop the elements, and the fire burned until September 29. The center of Kyiv was almost completely destroyed: Khreshchatyk, Mykolayivska, Meringivska, Olhynska streets, as well as parts of Instytutska, Lutheranska, Proriznaya, Pushkinska, Fundukleivska streets and Duma Square disappeared in the fire.
The explosions lasted for five days, from September 24 to 28, during which numerous buildings were blown up in the center of Kyiv. Some of them, for example, the Assumption Cathedral, were destroyed already in October and November. A total of 940 buildings were destroyed. As a result of the explosions and fires, thousands of civilians and hundreds of German soldiers and a large part of their equipment died, although the Soviet authorities never made the exact number of victims public. 50,000 Kyivites were left homeless, and the fire caused by the explosions was extinguished only two weeks later. This act of destruction was unparalleled in any other European capital during the war. Kyiv, as if it burned itself, turning the captors into victims.
Reconstruction of the city began immediately after the liberation of Kyiv in 1943. By the end of 1944, the center of the capital was cleared, and by the fall of 1945, asphalt had been laid here and trees planted. Large-scale construction of Khreschatyk began in 1949 and lasted until 1956, when the street acquired a modern appearance.
1960 – the launch of the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier “Enterprise”
On September 24, 1960, an important event in the history of the world fleet took place in Newport News, Virginia, USA – the launch of the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Enterprise. This ship, also known under the code number CVN-65, became a real revolution in naval construction. Its nuclear reactors provided the possibility of continuous sailing for many months without the need for refueling, which made the “Enterprise” a strategically important element of the American flotilla. The aircraft carrier had huge dimensions: its length reached more than 342 meters, and its displacement was about 95 thousand tons. The ship was able to carry on board more than 90 aircraft and helicopters and provide their support in combat operations. The Enterprise became a symbol of American military power and reliability, and for more than five decades successfully performed tasks in various theaters of war, until it was decommissioned in 2012.
1989 – Pope John Paul II apologized to Galileo
Pope John Paul II publicly apologized to Galileo Galilei for the church’s unfair treatment of the scientist in the 17th century. He recognized the fallacy of the accusations of heresy and returned to Galileo the right to be recognized as a “legitimate son of the church.” It became a symbol of the openness of the Catholic Church to scientific achievements and a critical understanding of its history.
1993 – The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine registered the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists
The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine officially registered the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), which previously operated mainly in exile. Mykola Plavyuk, the last president of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in exile, became the head of the organization. This was an important step in legitimizing the activity of nationalist movements in independent Ukraine.
1998 – The first hand transplant in the world
The world’s first hand transplant operation was performed in Lyon (France). This revolutionary event became a significant step in the development of medicine, in particular in the field of transplantology, and gave hope to many patients to return to an active life.
2004 – “Egg assassination attempt” on Viktor Yanukovych
During the presidential election campaign in Ukraine, during Viktor Yanukovych’s visit to Ivano-Frankivsk, an incident took place, which later became known as the “egg attack”. One of the students threw an egg at Yanukovych, which caused a wide public outcry and became the object of numerous jokes in the media. This incident became one of the bright events of that election campaign, which affected the political climate of the country.
