07 March, 1900 – The SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse became the first ship to send wireless signals to shore

The German transatlantic liner was fitted with wireless communication by its owner, Norddeutscher Lloyd, in order to outdo its rival Hamburg America Line.

08 March, 1978 – The first episode of the radio comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy broadcasted

Douglas Adams' radio play was a major success with BBC Radio 4 listeners. The book version consisting of five novels - A Trilogy in Five Parts - became a worldwide success.

09 March, 1959 – The Barbie doll went on sale

The American toy company Mattel claims that more than one billion Barbie dolls have been sold so far, with about three dolls being sold every second.

10 March, 1876– The first telephone call was made

Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the words “Mr Watson, come here – I want to see you” to his assistant, Thomas A. Watson, who was in the next-door room.

11 March, 1851– Giuseppe Verdi's opera, Rigoletto, received its premiere

Rigoletto is one of the most popular operas of all time. The piece was premiered at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy.

12 March, 1918– Moscow became Russia's capital city

St. Petersburg lost its status as the Russian capital following the Revolution of 1917, which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy.

13 March, 1781– Uranus discovered

German-born British astronomer William Herschel is credited with the planet's discovery. It is the third largest planet by radius in the solar system.