2014 had a lot of unfortunate things happen around the world. In Africa, the most widespread outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in history happened, and in northern Iraq and eastern Syria, ISIS took over.
While that was going on, somewhere over the South China Sea, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board, which generated the wildest conspiracy theories of the year (maybe even the decade), including wild claims relating to alien abduction.
On top of all that, beloved movie star Robin Williams died at the age of 63.
But 2014 wasn’t all negative, it had its fair share of good things! Millions of people, including celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Bill Gates & Mark Zuckerberg, participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, raising millions of dollars for charities associated with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
It was also the year when Guardians of the Galaxy premiered, introducing one of the most adorable characters in the Marvel Universe, Baby Groot.
Oh, and Kim and Kanye got married in Italy, holding no expenses whatsoever and spending an impressive $12 million on their special day!
Join us as we delve into these highlights and more, exploring the extraordinary journey that unfolded in the year 2014.
Events
Prepare to be amazed as we unveil the most unforgettable happenings that took place during the extraordinary year of 2014.
Jan 2
A bus plunged 400ft from a cliff in Malshej Ghat, India, killing thirty people.
The bus collided with a lorry resulting in the driver losing control. The bus then fell into a 400 ft deep gorge and split open on the rocky ground.
Jan 6
The Thaicom 6 satellite was launched into Earth’s orbit atop SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
The satellite, owned and operated by Thaicom Public Company Limited, is a geostationary communications satellite with an expected mission duration of fifteen years. The $160 million satellite provides coverage for a wide area, which includes Africa, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia.
Feb 14
Ellen Page received a standing ovation after her emotional coming out speech at the Human Rights Campaign “Time to Thrive.”
Feb 17
US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to college students in Jakarta, Indonesia, about the looming threat of Climate Change.
He talked of the urgency needed to address the issue and the dangers of interest groups who willfully deny the dangers it poses.
Feb 24
The oldest piece of Earth was found at a sheep ranch in Western Australia.
The fragment is an ancient crystal, and scientists date it back to around 4.4 billion years ago.
Mar 8
Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 disappeared with 239 people on board.
The flight was from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, and the last contact they had with air traffic control was around 38 minutes after takeoff. The plane was never found.
Mar 17
Pop singer-songwriter Sia released her hit single “Chandelier.”
The single reached the top 5 on record charts in 20 countries, including France, Poland, Norway, Australia & New Zealand.
May 30
Seth MacFarlane’s “A Million Ways to Die in the West” was released to theaters.
It was MacFarlane’s first live-action role on the big screen.
Jun 25
The Supreme Court of the United States decided on the rule that police cannot examine the contents of a cell phone without a search warrant.
Aug 10
Protesting and riots began in Missouri following the death of African American man, Michael Brown.
Brown was shot down dead by police on August 9, which sparked riots the following day. As a result, 321 protestors were arrested in Ferguson, Missouri.
Aug 13
Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani became the world’s first woman to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics.
Sep 7
Asteroid 2014 RC passed safely by Earth at a distance of 24,800 miles away.
The 72 feet (22 meters) wide asteroid was one of the closest asteroids to pass by earth.
Sep 16
Barbra Streisand’s album “Partners” was released, featuring duets with many hugely famous male artists.
The all-male line-up included artists such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé, Billy Joel, John Legend, Andrea Bocelli, and Lionel Richie.
Sep 18
UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson received a standing ovation for her gender inequality speech at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, US.
Sep 24
The Indian Space Research Organization’s Mars Orbiter Mission probe reached Mars’ orbit after 298 days.
This event was even more extraordinary as it was not just the first time an Asian nation’s spacecraft reached Mars’ orbit but the first time any space agency reached Mars’ orbit on its first attempt.
Oct 3
A data breach at JP Morgan Chase and six other institutions caused 83 million accounts to be compromised.
Oct 7
A Spanish nurse became the first person to contract Ebola outside of West Africa.
The cause was blamed on substandard PPE.
Oct 14
The Serbia v Albania qualifying match for the UEFA Euro soccer cup was canceled mid-game.
The match was canceled 42 minutes into the game after fans from both sides repeatedly burst onto the playing field and started fights. However, Serbia was awarded the win, as Albania refused to continue playing after fans attacked their players. Both teams were fined €100,000.
Oct 27
Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, “1989.”
1989 won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards in 2016. This made Swift the first female solo artist to win Album of the Year twice.
Nov 5
The epic science fiction film Interstellar was released.
With a runtime of 169 minutes, Interstellar is one of Christopher Nolan’s most memorable movies.
Nov 12
The Rosetta Philae became the first-ever probe to land on a moving comet.
The European Space Agency developed the space probe and landed on the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet after traveling for over a decade.
Nov 17
The legislation was passed, allowing females to be appointed as bishops of The Church of England.
Dec 5
NASA successfully launched Exploration Flight Test 1 to test the Orion crew module.
The flight was completed without a crew to test the various systems aboard the module to ensure safe passage for future astronauts. The Orion spacecraft is set to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo mission at some point in the 2030s.
Dec 7
A ban on diesel cars was called for in France.
In order to reduce pollution, the Mayor of Paris called for a ban on diesel cars in Paris by 2020, in addition to creating pedestrian-only neighborhoods.
Dec 9
The CIA Torture Report was released.
This report detailed the CIA’s use of torture on detainees between 2001 and 2006. This report was over 6,700 pages long, describing the history of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program.
Dec 13
A civil rights protest march in Washington, D.C., took place.
As a call to attention to unarmed black citizens being wrongfully killed by police, thousands protested for the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement in D.C.
Famous Deaths
Here’s a glimpse at a few famous people who bid us farewell in 2014.
2014
Shirley Temple
1928
2014
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple was an American actress born on April 23, 1928. She died on February 10, 2014, at age 85 in Woodside, California, USA.
Died In:
2014
Joan Rivers
1933
2014
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers was an American comedian born on June 8, 1933. She died on September 4, 2014, at age 81 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
Died In:
Quotes
Here’s a roundup of the most memorable quotes people said in 2014.
Jan 25
I can control my destiny, but not my fate. Destiny means there are opportunities to turn right or left, but fate is a one-way street. I believe we all have the choice as to whether we fulfil our destiny, but our fate is sealed.
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Lyricist
Apr 16
I have from the very beginning listened to my instinct. All of my best decisions in life have come because I was attuned to what really felt like the next right move for me.
Oprah Winfrey
American TV Host
2014 In Music
In 2014, the music scene was ablaze with unforgettable hits that had us grooving to the rhythm!
From the catchy beats of “Happy” by Pharrell Williams to the heartfelt ballad “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith, these songs tugged at our heartstrings and had us grooving to the rhythm all year long.
Stay in the loop with these music highlights from 2014 that are worth mentioning.
Album of the Year
Daft Punk’s electrifying and genre-blending album “Random Access Memories” left a lasting impression in 2014, winning them the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Song of the Year
Lorde’s mesmerizing hit “Royals” took the world by storm in 2014, winning her the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Best New Artist
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ unique blend of hip-hop and pop won them the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2014, leaving a lasting impact on mainstream music.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
In 2014, the 59th Eurovision Song Contest unfolded in Copenhagen, Denmark, bringing together an impressive lineup of talented performers.
Conchita Wurst, a captivating artist from Austria, stole the show with her unforgettable song “Rise Like a Phoenix,” showcasing her unique style and vocal prowess.
2014 in Numbers
Let’s look at some fun number facts! The Roman numeral representation of 2014 is MMXIV, and in binary, it’s 11111011110.
Chinese Zodiac 2014
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2014 was designated as The Year of the Horse, which takes place once every twelve years.
However, the Chinese zodiac also includes five elements, which are Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold (Metal), and Water. So 2014 was actually the Year of the Wood Horse, which only occurs every sixty years!
Did you know that the Chinese calendar operates on a lunar cycle? That’s why the Year of the Wood Horse actually started on January 31st, and lasted until February 18, 2015.
People born in the Year of the Horse are energetic, outgoing, and adventurous. They have a strong desire for freedom and love exploring new horizons, embracing life with enthusiasm and spontaneity.
Notable names like Emma Watson and Machine Gun Kelly are associated with the Year of the Horse, reflecting the remarkable accomplishments of individuals born under this sign!
2014 Trivia
In 2014, a photo on Facebook received 100 million likes, the first time this milestone was achieved since the platform’s creation.
The photo itself was of legendary singer and songwriter Shakira posing at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio, Brazil, where the FIFA World Cup was held that year.
