Today in history

Today is Thursday, Oct. 18, the 291st day of 2018 and the 27th day of autumn.

Today’s History: In 1767, the boundary between Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania (the Mason-Dixon Line) was established.

In 1962, Drs. James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins won the Nobel Prize in medicine/ physiology for uncovering the double-helix structure of DNA.

In 2001, four al-Qaida members were sentenced to life in prison for bombing the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Today’s Fact: The Mason-Dixon Line surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in 1767 left a “wedge” of land in dispute between Delaware and Pennsylvania until 1921.

Today’s Sports: In 1977, New York Yankees outfielder Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three consecutive swings against three different Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers, leading his team to an 8-4 win (and the series win) in Game 6 of the World Series.

Today’s Quote: “A society which emphasizes uniformity is one which creates intolerance and hate.” — Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Today’s Number: $556.37 — Herman Melville’s total earnings from the 3,715 copies of “Moby-Dick” that sold during his lifetime. The nowclassic novel was first published as a three-volume edition titled “The Whale” on this day in 1851.

Today’s Moon: Between first quarter moon (Oct. 16) and full moon (Oct. 24).