Here’s a brief look back in time for this day, April 25.
In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope is deployed in Earth’s low-orbit. Named after famed astronomer Edwin Hubble, the telescope was concepted decades prior in the 1940s as a device that can see distant galaxies without Earth’s atmosphere interfering. Hubble is credited as being one of the first scientists to discover the universe being in constant expansion. After years of fighting for funding and figuring out the feasibility of such a project, the Hubble Space Telescope is launched with the help of the space shuttle Discovery the day previous to this one. Thousands of photos have been captured, showing the beautiful – and oftentimes terrifying – sides of the universe. It’s expected to discontinue its service at some point in the 2030s due to decay, where it’ll return back to Earth. The James Webb Telescope was launched in 2021 with a similar mission, albeit with newer equipment and located in solar orbit between Earth and the Sun.
In 2014, the Flint water crisis begins. Located an hour northwest of Detroit, MI, the city underwent a change in water sources as a cost-cutting measure. Originally, the city sourced from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, which got its water from the nearby Lake Huron. However, due to financial struggles, a decision was made to avert to its emergency option: the Flint River. Another issue was the failure to apply corrosion inhibitors to the water, which quickly eroded the lead pipes. Individual studies prior to this sudden change were conducted, warning the mayor’s cabinet about the inevitable water contamination. Later, thousands of residents began complaining about the water’s strange taste and odors, not realizing that the water they were drinking contained an unsafe amount of lead. Elevated lead levels were later found in the blood of hundreds of children, causing permanent health defects. A citywide public health state of emergency was issued by then-mayor Karen Weaver to seek state and federal help in December 2015 – 18 months after the crisis began. It wouldn’t take until 2017 when most of the water was declared safe to drink. In total, 12 deaths were caused as a result of a Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak. However, thousands of children had contracted chronic illnesses and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dozens of city officials were criminally charged, including two with counts of involuntary manslaughter. However, they were all ultimately dropped. Many residents have received compensation as a result of civil lawsuits filed against the city and the state.