1967: The life expectancy for Americans is 70.5 years.

Today: The life expectancy for Americans is almost 77 years.

1967: International Treaty bans weapons of mass destruction from space, and the United Nations approves a nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Today: Arguing that rogue states could still compromise the United States security and put millions of citizens at risk during a nuclear attack, the Bush administration argues for continuing development on a national missile defense shield.

1967: The World Health Organization begins a program to get rid of the smallpox virus completely, which has killed millions of people in its history. Although the virus had been stamped out in Europe and North America, it still exists in poorer regions of the world. In May 1980, WHO formally announces that smallpox has been eliminated.

Today: More than 33 million people worldwide have been infected with the HIV virus, which can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency...