On this day in history - March 8

What Happened On This Day – March 8

• 1979 The compact disc is presented to the public

  The CD was developed by Philips and Sony. The companies later collaborated to produce a standard format and CD players.

• 1978 The first episode of the radio comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is broadcast

  Douglas Adams' radio play was a major success with BBC Radio 4 listeners. The book version consisting of five novels - A Trilogy in Five Parts - became a worldwide success.

• 1971 In the Fight of the Century, Joe Frazier triumphs over Muhammad Ali

  Ali had been stripped of his World Heavyweight Champion title in 1967 for refusing to serve in the armed forces. As he was still undefeated, Frazier had to beat him to be recognized as the world champion.

• 1910 Raymonde de Laroche becomes the first woman with a pilot's license

  The French aviatrix was also the first woman to fly solo. She died at the age of 36 when her experimental plane crashed at Le Crotoy airfield in northern France.

• 1817 The New York Stock Exchange is founded

  The NYSE at 11 Wall Street in New York City is the world's largest stock exchange.