The word "today" was generally written as two words until the 16th Century, then as "to-day" until the early 20th Century. Learn something about everything with our daily dose of bite-sized facts! Today is Friday, September 11, 2026. It’s the 254 th day of the year, and we’re on week 37. Every day is special for some reason, and today is no different! Here you’ll find some interesting facts & events that happened today in history, as well as The Fact Site’s Fact of the Day! Learn what special holiday falls on this day and how to celebrate it. You’ll also find out what famous people celebrate their birthdays today! We update this page daily, so if you have a few minutes spare, check out these events & facts that all help to make today a special day! Historical Events The world is full of things happening – all day, every day. But here are some notable events that happened today in history. NASA revealed that water vapor was discovered in the atmosphere of an Earth-size planet, the exoplanet K2-18b. K2-18b is a super-Earth about 111 light-years away from our solar system. It was discovered in 2015 by NASA's Kepler spacecraft. Astronomers say it's "the best candidate for habitability that we know right now." Two planes crashed into the World Trade Towers in New York City. On this day, four terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda were performed in the United States. Almost 3,000 lives were lost, more than 20,000 people were injured, and $10 billion in damages was caused. The 9/11 attacks became the worst terror attack in history. The video game console Atari 2600 was released. The Atari 2600 was initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System until November 1982. US Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, wrote, “There never was a good war or a bad peace,” in a letter to Josiah Quincy. These are just our highlighted events, but if you'd like to learn more about what happened on this day, you can check out the link below! Famous Birthdays Are you celebrating your birthday today? If so, you're not the only one! Here are a few famous people that were also born on this day. American rapper Ludacris was born on September 11, 1977, in Champaign, Illinois, USA. He is 49 years old today! Taraji P. Henson Taraji P. Henson American actress Taraji P. Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Washington D.C., USA. She is celebrating her 56th birthday today! American actor Tyler Hoechlin was born on September 11, 1987, in Corona, California, USA. He is 39 years old today! Norwegian DJ Kygo was born on September 11, 1991, in Bergen, Norway. He is 35 years old today! Throughout history, people have said some emotional, inspirational, and thought-provoking things, sometimes silly things too! But here's what's been said on this day in history. Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness. English Novelist Today's Holidays Every day has special holidays that are celebrated throughout the world, and today is no different! Here's two of today's special holidays you can participate in. National Make Your Bed Day Look, we all know that making your bed is one of those things you should do to develop healthy habits, but it’s something that rarely ends up happening in many households. So if there’s one day a year you make your bed, make it today on National Make Your Bed Day! No News Is Good News Day

Good news doesn’t sell, so most of the news we see daily is bad news. This can tip our mental health in a dangerous direction, which is why No News Is Good News Day was created. So unplug from the news cycle, at least for a day, and enjoy being much more relaxed! Shower Thoughts Don't you just love it when you're taking your morning shower, and that little voice in your head asks, " how many balloons would it take to float a human? " We all have these strange thoughts at random times - and here are our shower thoughts of the day. Fact Of The Day The world’s smallest McDonald’s is the McHive, a miniature restaurant replica in Sweden built in 2019 as a fully functional beehive for real bees. Check out our daily facts page for fresh, random facts updated every day! Fast Facts About Today Day of Week Friday Day of Year Day 254 Week Number Week 37 Moon Phase New Moon Leap Year 2026 is not a leap year 2026 is not a leap year Zodiac Sign Virgo Birthstone Sapphire Birth Flower Aster Every date has its own story. From headline-making moments in history to notable birthdays, seasonal traditions, and small daily curiosities, this page is a quick reminder that there’s always something worth learning. Check back anytime you want a fresh snapshot of what makes today truly unique. Continue Reading Ward, Luke. "Facts & Events That Happened Today In History." The Fact Site , 3 Feb. 2023, www.thefactsite.com/day/today/. Accessed 11 Sept. 2026. Ward, L. (2026, September 11). Facts & Events That Happened Today In History. The Fact Site. https://www.thefactsite.com/day/today/ Ward, Luke. "Facts & Events That Happened Today In History." The Fact Site , September 11, 2026. https://www.thefactsite.com/day/today/. Popular On This Day About The Author Luke Ward is the owner of The Fact Site. He has over 14 years of experience in researching, informative writing, fact-checking, SEO & web design. In his spare time, he loves to explore the world, drink coffee & attend trivia nights. Help Us Fact Check Accuracy is a continuous process. While we work hard to keep every detail correct and up to date, information can change, and mistakes can happen. If you notice anything that doesn’t seem right, we’d really appreciate your help. Please let us know using the form below, and our team will review it as soon as possible. Search For Facts About... Search For Facts About...