February 28, today in world history: From the end of Gulf War to discovery of the structure of DNA

February 28 has marked decisive turning points in world politics, science, war, and global institutions.

In 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated in Stockholm after leaving a cinema without security protection. Palme was an internationally recognized political figure known for his outspoken positions on nuclear disarmament, apartheid, and Cold War neutrality.

In 1935, chemist Wallace Carothers at DuPont successfully synthesized nylon, the first fully synthetic polymer to be commercially viable. Nylon transformed industries ranging from textiles to military manufacturing during World War II. Its development paved the way for modern plastics era, which has had far-reaching economic and environmental consequences worldwide.


In 1947, protests erupted in Taiwan after a confrontation between government agents and a civilian escalated into widespread unrest. What followed became known as the “228 Incident,” a violent suppression by the Kuomintang (KMT) regime that resulted in an estimated 18,000 to 28,000 deaths. The crackdown marked the beginning of decades of martial law and significantly influenced Taiwan’s long-term political development and democratization.

In 1953, scientists James D. Watson and Francis Crick announced that they had determined the double-helix structure of DNA at the University of Cambridge. Their findings, built upon crucial X-ray diffraction research conducted by Rosalind Franklin, revolutionized biology and medicine. The discovery laid the foundation for molecular genetics, biotechnology, forensic science, and modern medical research worldwide.

In 1975, a London Underground train crashed into the end of a tunnel at Moorgate station, killing 43 people. The disaster remains one of the deadliest accidents in British rail history and led to major changes in railway safety systems and driver protocols.

In 1991, US President George H. W. Bush declared a cease-fire, effectively ending the Gulf War after a 43-day coalition military campaign against Iraq. The conflict began after Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in August 1990. The US-led coalition’s victory restored Kuwaiti sovereignty and reshaped security dynamics in the Middle East.

In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI formally resigned from the papacy, becoming the first pope in nearly 600 years to voluntarily step down. Citing declining strength due to advanced age, his resignation marked a rare institutional transition in the Roman Catholic Church, which has over one billion adherents worldwide.