It’s 2024, and like any other year, it’s definitely going to be one to remember!
We’re currently in week 47, celebrating the 327th day of the year. But there’s still so much to look forward to as we eagerly await what the future has in store for us!
We’re still working on 2024, but here are some highlights from the year so far! We’ll also delve into fascinating facts about the number 2024 and explore the captivating world of the Chinese zodiac for this year.
So, grab a comfy seat and join us as we dive into the incredible journey that is 2024!
Events
Here are some unforgettable events that have happened in the world in 2024 so far.
Jan 3
Jeffery Epstein’s associates were revealed in court documents from Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2015 trial.
The list of associates includes countless high-profile figures, including former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Steven Hawking, Michael Jackson, and Prince Andrew of Britain.
Jan 18
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter took off for its 72nd and final flight on Mars.
In January 2021, Ingenuity became the first aircraft to fly on another planet. Ingenuity far exceeded its expected life, as it was only ever supposed to be able to handle five flights and last about a month.
Jan 27
Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, embarked on its maiden voyage from Miami.
With 20 decks and the ability to hold 7,600 passengers, the new supersized cruise ship was quickly christened the “Human Lasagne” by social media. At 1,198 feet (365 meters) long, it’s longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall!
Feb 22
Odysseus became the first private spacecraft to land on the Moon.
The Odysseus moon lander, operated by the US firm Intuitive Machines, was the first US-owned spacecraft to land on the Moon in over 50 years. The landing wasn’t a total success, though, as the lander ended up tipping on its side during the process.
Mar 10
Christopher Nolan won Best Director, and his film “Oppenheimer” won Best Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Cillian Murphy also won an Oscar for his lead role in “Oppenheimer,” Emma Stone won Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Poor Things,” and Miyazaki’s last film, “The Boy and the Heron” won Best Animated Feature Film.
Mar 17
Vladimir Putin won the Russian Presidential election again.
While Putin supposedly won 88% of the vote, major Western nations, including the US, UK, and Germany, claimed that the vote was neither free nor fair. One key part of this was the fact that all viable political opponents were either imprisoned or censored.
Mar 26
Baltimore’s iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship.
Fortunately, the event happened in the early hours of the morning rather than during peak hours. Although Dali, the cargo ship, was only going 9 mph (15 km/hr), its massive weight caused the entire span of the 1.6-mile (2.6-km) long bridge to collapse.
May 21
The International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders for alleged war crimes.
Warrants were requested for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three HAMAS leaders, for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza.
May 30
Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsified business records.
The former US president became the first current or former president to be convicted of criminal charges. He was found guilty of falsifying documents to cover up hush money payments to former adult film star Stormy Daniels during the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.
Jun 8
While rescuing four captives in central Gaza, Israeli soldiers killed 247 Palestinians and injured 698.
The deadly daytime operation by the Israeli Defence Force was conducted to rescue Israeli hostages captured during Hamas’ October 7 attacks. The Israeli government states the death toll to be much lower, under 100. Hamas disagrees, calling the operation a “horrific massacre” of civilians.
Jun 24
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walked free after a 14-year legal battle.
After creating WikiLeaks in 2010 and releasing classified US military documents, Assange faced 14 years of legal challenges and imprisonment. He spent the last five years in a high-profile London prison and was ultimately released after pleading guilty in a US court.
Jul 26
The Summer Olympic Games opening ceremony was held outdoors for the first time ever.
In a spectacular event, 6,800 athletes paraded in 85 boats along the Seine River in Paris, heading towards the Eiffel Tower. There, the Olympic flame was launched into the sky from a cauldron attached to a hot air balloon.
Aug 5
British graffiti artist Banksy created the first in a series of animal artworks in London.
Banksy’s first piece was the silhouette of a goat near Kew Bridge, followed by a new piece each day for seven days. All the works in the series were of animals, including monkeys, a cat, and piranhas on a police box.
Aug 24
Pavel Durov, founder of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France for alleged involvement in organized crime.
After his release, he was placed under formal investigation over Telegram’s use in criminal activities and banned from leaving the country during the investigation.
Sep 17
Norway became the first country in the world where electric cars outnumbered petrol cars.
Out of the 2.8 million private vehicles registered in Norway, 753,905 ran on petrol while 754,303 were electric. More impressively, electric cars made up 94.3% of all new cars registered in Norway in August 2024.
Oct 3
The world’s longest treasure hunt ended after 31 years.
The 31-year treasure hunt for France’s famed Golden Owl has finally ended with the discovery of a bronze owl. The hunt began in 1993 when Max Valentin published Chouette d’Or (golden owl), a book containing 11 clues leading to the location of the owl, which he buried in France. The finder of the owl won a sculpted golden owl valued at over $160,000.
Oct 16
Prada teamed up with Axiom Space to create the spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III mission to the Moon.
Prada and aerospace company Axiom Space unveiled the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, designed for NASA’s Artemis III mission. The suit was showcased at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan.
Famous Deaths
Unfortunately, 2024 has also been a year we’ve had to say some goodbyes…
1993
2024
Liam Payne
English
Singer
1993
2024
Liam Payne
Liam Payne was an English singer born on August 29, 1993. He died on October 16, 2024, at age 31 in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Died On:
Oct 16, 2024 (Age 31)
Died In:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
1934
2024
Maggie Smith
English
Actress
1934
2024
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith was an English actress born on December 28, 1934. She died on September 27, 2024, at age 89 in London, England, UK.
Died On:
Sep 27, 2024 (Age 89)
Died In:
England, UK
1961
2024
Toby Keith
American
Singer-Songwriter
1961
2024
Toby Keith
Toby Keith was an American singer-songwriter born on July 8, 1961. He died on February 5, 2024, at age 62 in Oklahoma, USA.
Died On:
Feb 5, 2024 (Age 62)
Died In:
Oklahoma, USA
1948
2024
Carl Weathers
American
Actor
1948
2024
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers was an American actor born on January 14, 1948. He died on February 1, 2024, at age 76 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Died On:
Feb 1, 2024 (Age 76)
Died In:
California, USA
Quotes
Who said what now? Here are some memorable things people have said in 2024.
Sep 24
I call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the sausages… the hostages.
Keir Starmer
British Politician
2024 In Music
Looking for some new songs for your 2024 playlist?
Well, here’s the official Billboard Hot 100 playlist, featuring this week’s most popular songs!
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift’s introspective and poetic album “Midnights” captivated the music world in 2024, earning her the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and showcasing her evolution as a formidable singer-songwriter.
Song of the Year
Billie Eilish captivated the music world in 2024, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year with her poignant and reflective track “What Was I Made For?” from the “Barbie” movie soundtrack.
Best New Artist
Victoria Monét’s soulful voice and heartfelt R&B tracks won her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2024, marking her emergence as a significant new talent in the music industry.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malmö, Sweden, in 2024.
Switzerland emerged victorious with the song “The Code,” performed by Nemo, who became the first non-binary winner in the contest’s history.
2024 in Numbers
Let’s dive into some interesting number facts!
If you’ve ever wondered how to write the year 2024 in Roman numerals, it’s MMXXIV. And, if you ever find yourself needing to know what 2024 looks like in binary, it’s 11111101000.
Leap Year
2024 is a leap year, meaning we get an extra day in February. This extra day corrects for the gradual misalignment between our calendar and the Earth’s journey around the sun.
Harshad Number
2024 is a Harshad number, which is a number that can be evenly divided by the sum of its digits. It’s like a special math rule for some numbers.
To explain in more detail, we add up the digits (2 + 0 + 2 + 4), which equals 8. And now we see if 2024 can be divided evenly by 8, which it can! 2024 ÷ 8 = 253. So this makes 2024 a Harshad number.
Abundant Number
Also, 2024 is known as an abundant number. An abundant number is a number where if you add up all the smaller numbers that can divide evenly into it, the total sum is greater than the number itself.
So, when you add up all the smaller numbers that can divide evenly into 2024 (1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 22, 23, 44, 46, 88, 92, 184, 253, 506, 1012), they add up to 2296, which is greater than 2024.
Chinese Zodiac 2024
According to the Chinese calendar, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which occurs every twelve years.
But did you know that the Chinese zodiac cycle also incorporates the five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold (Metal), and Water? So 2024 is actually the Year of the Wood Dragon, which only occurs every sixty years!
Because the Chinese calendar works from the lunar cycle, the Chinese New Year for 2024 didn’t start on January 1st. Instead, it runs from February 10th to February 28, 2025.
Individuals born in the Year of the Dragon are known for their strong leadership qualities, ambition, and confidence. They possess a charismatic and magnetic personality.
Famous people born in Years of the Dragon include Jhené Aiko and Lizzo!
