Now that 2024 has come to an end, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the biggest events that defined last year. From politics to pop culture, here are ten of the most important moments of 2024:
1. Boeing Door falling off
The FAA initiated an investigation into Boeing following an incident where an Alaska Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after a door plug came loose from the fuselage of a Boeing 737-9 MAX. The plane, carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, had just taken off from Portland, Oregon, when passengers heard a loud bang and saw a missing panel. The aircraft safely returned to Portland without any injuries.
The investigation follows previous grounding orders for similar planes. Boeing has apologized and is cooperating with the FAA to address the issue.
2. Drake and Kendrick’s rap feud
Anyone who is active on social media has likely followed the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, arguably two of the most famous rappers in modern-day. While the rap feud has been ongoing since past years, in 2024 it reached headlines as Kendrick released the song “Not Like Us.” The track, which went on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and win Song of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards, targeted Drake’s allegations of pedophilia.
Just a day after Lamar’s release, Drake dropped his newest diss track, “‘The Heart Part 6,’” where he denied all accusations made against him. The song’s title is a reference to Lamar’s song series “The Heart,” and the track also climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 to land No. 14. The dramatic escalation of the conflict in 2024 leaves many fans wondering if the rivalry will continue to make headlines this year.
3. Solar eclipse
For the first time since 2017, a total solar eclipse passed through the United States. In this anticipated celestial event, the Moon completely blocked out the Sun and cast a shadow over the Earth, making daylight obscured.
15 states and parts of Mexico and Canada were in the path of totality, where residents saw total darkness for around four minutes. Although New Jersey was outside of the path, partial eclipses still provided stunning views with solar glasses.
4. Trump’s shooting and reelection
Former President Donald Trump remained a dominant figure in American politics, running for reelection as the Republican candidate. His campaign focused on issues like immigration, the economy, and foreign policy, drawing significant support from the Republicans. The race for presidency continued to be highly competitive, with Trump vying for another term against President Joe Biden and later Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the year, a shooting incident involving Trump made headlines when a threat was directed at him during a campaign event. While the former president was not seriously harmed, the incident led to increased security at political events. The situation showed the concerns of safety for public figures in a political atmosphere.
5. The Paris 2024 Olympics
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics were a highly anticipated global event, marking the return of the games to the French capital after a century. It was a celebration of innovation and tradition, featuring 32 sports, including the debut of break-dancing, which brought a fresh energy to the Games. Paris also made sustainability a top priority, using existing venues and building temporary structures. The organizers also pushed for a more inclusive experience, ensuring gender equality across sports for the first time ever, which was a major step forward for the Olympics.
What set the Paris 2024 Olympics apart was the way the city blended the old with the new. For example, the opening ceremony was unlike anything seen before, with athletes arriving by boat along the River Seine instead of the usual stadium entrance. There was also a huge focus on urban sports like skateboarding, surfing, and climbing, making the games feel more modern and relatable to younger audiences. The Paris Olympics will be remembered for its bold vision and impact on the future Olympics.
6. Nobel Prizes in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 was awarded for groundbreaking advancements in protein research. On nobleprize.org it states “David Baker has succeeded with the almost impossible feat of building entirely new kinds of proteins. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper have developed an AI model to solve a 50-year-old problem: predicting proteins’ complex structures.” Hassabus and Jumper developed AlphaFold, an AI system that can predict 3D structure of proteins, solving a challenge that scientists had faced for over 50 years. These discoveries have significant implications for fields like medicine and biotechnology, opening new doors to understand biological processes at a molecular level.
7. Pagers exploding in Lebanon
Upheaval in the Middle East continued to make the news as conflicts arose in mid-September. From September 17 to 18, hundreds of pagers belonging to the group Hezbollah exploded in Lebanon. The explosions killed at least 37 people and injured nearly 3,000 more, many of those being civilian bystanders.
Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has implied that Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad, and the Israeli military were responsible for the event. Explosive materials were hidden inside of the pagers’ lithium batteries with advanced, undetectable tactics. The event was a reflection of persisting tensions in the Middle East that have been unfolding after the October 7 attack.
8. South Korea declares martial law
The political tensions in South Korea eventually amounted to the declaration of martial law from the nation’s President Yoon Suk Yeol. Martial law, a state of military authority temporarily substituting for civilian rule, had not been declared since the country’s military dictatorship ended in 1987. While the President claimed he was trying to protect South Korea’s democracy, most of the public saw his declaration as a ploy to freeze political action and prevent his impeachment.
The President was forced to retract his statement less than a day later after both the liberal and conservative parties unanimously voted to overrule the President in a Cabinet meeting. However, the South Korean citizens remained angered by the President’s actions and pressures from the opposition political party led Yoon to be impeached on December 14. While an arrest warrant has been issued for Yoon’s detainment, he has refused to comply.
9. Healthcare CEO homicide
Bringing the US healthcare system under close scrutiny, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. The suspect was caught and arrested around a week after the pre-planned killing.
The bullet casings found at the scene of Thompson’s killing had the words “Deny, Defend, Depose” etched onto them. These words refer to how health insurance companies deny patients care and force them to pay large bills with their own money. Social media has shown little sympathy for Thompson, with some making out Mangione to be a folk hero who was wronged by the American healthcare system.
10. Movie releases (Wicked, Moana 2, It Ends With Us)
2024 was a huge year for movie releases, with a mix of long awaited sequels, book adaptations, and others making waves in theaters. Some include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and many more. The most notable include:
Wicked: The long awaited adaptation turned the beloved Broadway musician into a beautiful film. Featuring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the show was split into two parts. Fans of the stage production finally got to see the iconic story on the big screen.
Moana 2: This sequel explored Moana’s roots even further, and with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reprising his role as Maui, it captured the same feelings that made the original such a hit. The film’s emphasis on culture and adventure impressed fans.
It Ends With Us: Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, it starred Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The film portrays complex relationships and personal growth, making it one of the most talked about romantic dramas of the year.
Reflecting on the past year, it is clear that 2024 was defined by a range of impactful events across politics and entertainment. These moments have left a lasting impact as we look ahead to the new year.
