Born on February 12
Darwin Day
Happy birthday to a curious mind.
Next: February 12, 2027
Where it comes from
Charles Darwin was born on 12 February 1809, and Darwin Day turns his birthday into a celebration of science. The organised movement began with three enthusiasts: Dr Robert Stephens, who started an annual celebration with the Humanist Community in Silicon Valley in 1995; Professor Massimo Pigliucci, who held Darwin…
How it's celebrated
Museums, universities, schools and science groups hold talks and events around his birthday. The idea is to celebrate science and curiosity rather than any single person, so a walk in the park looking closely at beetles, leaves or birds is entirely in the spirit of the day.
Did you know
In February 1855, while working in Sarawak on Borneo, Alfred Russel Wallace wrote his 'Sarawak Law' paper, his first formal statement on how species come into being.
Read the full story of Darwin Day
Star sign
Aquarius · January 20 – February 18 · Air sign
Original and independent, a little ahead of their time.