May 13th: National & International Days, Celebrations and Observances

May 13 brings opportunities to pitch in around town. Here's what's happening.

• The farmers' market opens early. Grab coffee, then browse stalls for fresh apples and hummus ingredients. A few regulars trade recipes near the herb stand - they're always happy to share kitchen secrets.
• Our local frog population needs counting. Bring a notepad and help conservation teams track species locations. The data helps protect breeding spots.
• Speaking of growing things - herbs don't need much space. A sunny windowsill works for basics like mint and basil. They're hard to kill and beat dried herbs any day.
• Those working nights deserve a boost. Leave a coffee or quick hello at hospitals and factories between shifts. The 3 AM hours are longest - small gestures matter then.

Pick what works for you. Whether it's shopping local, tracking wildlife, or checking in on night crews, each effort counts in its own way.

Through his telescope in 1861, John Tebbutt made a key astronomical discovery - a C/1861 J1 comet (magnitude -2) visible from his New South Wales observatory. As Earth intersected its tail on May 13th, the comet blazed bright enough to cast shadows. Scientists still study this rare direct contact with cometary material.

In '95, veteran climber Alison Hargreaves reached 29,029 feet on Everest (8,848m). Her solo ascent without supplemental O2 took just 34 hours from Base Camp. The Yorkshire-born mountaineer's fast, alpine-style climb stood apart from the fixed-rope expeditions common on Everest.

Ben Carlin spent 1947 to 1958 driving and floating his Ford GPA across the world. His half-track amphibious jeep "Half-Safe" plowed through 39 countries, surviving both Atlantic swells and Saharan sand. The 50,000-mile route made him the first to circle Earth by land and sea in one vehicle.

The date May 13th links a remarkable set of scientific minds across three centuries.

• In 1713, a teenage Alexis Clairaut stepped before the Paris Academy of Sciences. His mathematical work, presented at just 13, marked the start of a brilliant career. Later calculations brought him within 30 days of pinpointing Halley's Comet's return. Satellite systems today build on his foundational studies of Earth's shape.
• Danish scientist Inge Lehmann reached an age many dream of - 104 years. Back in 1936, she turned geology on its head. Her research yielded clear evidence of Earth's solid inner core, an achievement that made her the William Bowie Medal's first female recipient.
• British physician Ronald Ross changed medicine in 1902. After years of patient observation, he spotted the link between mosquitoes and malaria transmission. His Nobel Prize followed. Public health experts now apply his methods to track both disease spread and health impacts of changing climate.
• Mike Gravel brought Alaska's independent spirit to Washington. He fought hard - blocking nuclear tests, defending wilderness. In 1971, while others hesitated, he read the classified Pentagon Papers straight into the Congressional Record.
• The origins of our planet fascinated Gérard Paul Deshayes. This French scientist meticulously documented fossil patterns, helping name the Paleocene. His detailed collections and data analysis opened windows that climate researchers still peer through today.