THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010

Today is Thursday, April 1, the 91st day of 2010. There are 274 days left in the year.

374 _ Halley's Comet approaches within 0.0884 astronomical units (AUs) of Earth

527 _ Justinianus becomes compassionate emperor of Byzantium

1578 _ William Harvey of England discovers blood circulation

1924 _ Hitler sentenced to five years labor but General Ludendorff acquitted

1939 _ U.S. recognizes Franco government in Spain at end of Spanish civil war Pope Pius XII congratulates Generalissimo Franco's victory in Spain

1952 _ Big Bang theory proposed in Physical Review by Alpher, Bethe and Gamow

1979 _ Iran proclaimed an Islamic Republic following fall of Shah

1991 _ U.S. minimum wage goes from $3.80 to $4.25 per hour

1991 _ Warsaw Pact officially dissolves

1992 _ World's seven wealthiest nations agree on $24 billion aid for former USSR