On the 6th of April, explorer Robert Peary reached the North Pole, conquering one of the most inhospitable terrains in the world. The American commander had preserved through five previous unsuccessful attempts, dating back over seven years. These expeditions all failed in the icy seas of the Arctic.

This time, Peary began his journey on the Roosevelt, a ship specially designed to withstand Arctic ice, which sailed north from the USA to Greenland. This was followed by a exhausting 145-kilometre (90-mile) trek, in preparation for the final 36-day move towards the Pole. The party dwindled in size as exhausted members turned back. Peary shared his triumph with the fuor remaining Inuit team members and his African-American assistant, Matthew Hensen.

French aviator Louis Blériot was greeted by cheering crowds on the morning of 25th July, as he landed at Dover Castle, Dover. He was the first person to fly across the English Channel. His aircraft was a wooden monoplane tied together with piano strings, weighing only 20 kilos (45 lb).

The 36-year-old took off at 5.00 am from Sangatte, near Calais and landed 43 minutes later, guided in by a journalist, waving a French tri-colour flag. Blériot had followed his course by looking at ships below, having no compass in the airplane. Blériot claimed his prize of 1000 punds, offered by the newspaper Daily Mail for this feat.