TODAY’S HISTORY

1547: King Henry VIII of England died and was succeeded by his 9-year-old son, Edward VI.

1871: France surrendered to Germany, ending the Francoprussian War.

1915: Congress passed legislation creating the modern U.S. Coast Guard.

1986: The space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff, killing six astronauts and Christa Mcauliffe, a teacher who was to become the first civilian in space.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS:

Jose Marti (1853-1895), poet/activist; Charles Williams Nash (18641948), entrepreneur; Colette (1873-1954), author; Jackson Pollock (1912-1956), artist; Alan Alda (1936-), actor; Carlos Slim Helu (1940-), business magnate; Gregg Popovich (1949-), basketball coach; Frank Darabont (1959-), filmmaker; Rakim (1968-), rapper; Sarah Mclachlan (1968-), singer-songwriter; Rick Ross (1976-), rapper; Nick Carter (1980-), singer-songwriter; Elijah Wood (1981-), actor; J. Cole (1985-), rapper; Ariel Winter (1998-), actress.

TODAY’S FACT: The modern Lego brick was patented on this day in 1958. Lego bricks from that year are compatible with bricks produced today.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1959, Vince Lombardi was named the Green Bay Packers’ head coach and general manager.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “When you get to know yourself, you get to know everyone and everything on the planet.” — Rakim

TODAY’S NUMBER: 21,000 — estimated number of genes in the human genome, revised from estimates of as many as 140,000 in 2001.

TODAY’S MOON: Full moon (Jan. 28).