50 years ago

In the past ten years the number of television licences in Britain has grown from less than 15,000 to nearly eight million, and the estimated number of adults aged sixteen or more in homes with television sets from 80,000 (all in the London region), which was 0.2 per cent of the total adults, to 21,850,000 or 57.9 per cent. For every person who had a television set in 1947 there are five hundred to-day, and six out of ten adults can see television in their own homes ... The United Kingdom now ranks third with Canada in its ratio of persons to television receivers (6); only the United States (4) and Hawaii (5) exceed it ... Published evidence as to the effect of television on social habits and hobbies does not indicate a wide difference between the habits of those owning television sets and those without, in many activities such as sport, gardening, theatre-going and card-playing: the most significant differences appear in reading, attendance at the cinema, church-going and dancing.

From Nature 12 July 1958.

100 years ago

Count Zeppelin last week made a remarkably successful flight in his new airship ... The distance covered is estimated at 250 miles, and the journey lasted twelve hours. The greatest height reached by the airship's own engine-power is stated to be some 750 metres, and the highest speed 15.3 metres per second ... We notice that Count Zeppelin has received a telegram of congratulation from the German Emperor.

Also:

The prize of 10,000 francs (400l.) offered by M. Armengaud to the first aëroplane to remain in the air for a quarter of an hour was won by Mr. Farman on Monday ... Mr. Farman made a flight with his apparatus which lasted 20m. 20s. according to official timing. He covered a distance of about eleven miles.

From Nature 9 July 1908.