What a year 2010 was! It all started with Eyjafjallajökul, an Icelandic volcano with a tricky name, erupting and causing massive delays and cancellations to European flights.
Meanwhile, an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico rapidly became the worst oil spill of all time. Haiti also suffered greatly from a devastating earthquake that left around 1 million people homeless.
However, 2010 also had some good things happen. An absolute miracle occurred in Chile, where 33 miners spent 69 days trapped in a mine shaft before being rescued.
2010 was also the year that Instagram was launched, the first iPad was released, the hit TV series Lost ended, and the first series of The Walking Dead began.
Oh, and Justin Bieber released his instant-hit “Baby,” which people either loved or hated with a passion.
Continue reading to explore a comprehensive account of the noteworthy events, news stories, musical hits, memorable quotes, and notable deaths that defined 2010.
Events
Prepare to be enthralled by the fascinating stories behind the significant events that unfolded throughout the year 2010.
Jan 4
The world’s largest building at the time opened in Dubai.
The building was called Burj Khalifa and stood at 2,722 feet tall (829.8 meters).
Jan 12
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti claimed 160,000 lives.
The disaster wreaked havoc in the country and destroyed the capital of Port-Au-Prince with an estimated USD 7.8-8.5 billion damage.
Jan 27
Steve Jobs announced the Apple iPad, the company’s most advanced piece of technology at the time.
Feb 17
Casey Neistat uploaded his first-ever YouTube video.
However, he didn’t make his first vlog until March 25, 2013.
Mar 24
Craig David was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador against tuberculosis (TB) by the World Health Organization.
The choice came after the singer sold more than 13 million albums worldwide to help fund the fight against TB.
May 4
Emmy Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus, star of “Seinfeld,” received the 2,407th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
May 23
The final episode of LOST aired.
It was simultaneously screened in the US, UK, and six other countries. This was done to avoid spoilers and illegal internet downloads.
May 29
In the Super Rugby Final at Orlando Stadium, the Bulls defended their title with a 25-17 win over the Stormers in an all-South African final.
Jun 18
Eminem released his 7th studio album “Recovery.”
The album was going to be called “Relapse 2” to follow on from his previous album, but he decided that the music was too different from “Relapse,” so he called it “Recovery” instead.
Jun 24
The longest tennis match in history took place.
The match was between American player John Isner and French player Nicolas Mahut in Wimbledon. It lasted an incredible 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days.
Jul 8
“Inception,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, premiered in London, England.
Inception grossed over $828 million worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2010.
Jul 25
Wikileaks published classified information about the war in Afghanistan.
This was one of the largest leaks in US military history.
Aug 14
Singapore opened the world’s first Summer Youth Olympics Games.
There were 3,600 athletes from 204 nations aged between 14 and 18.
Sep 6
The historical drama “The King’s Speech” premiered at Telluride Festival in the United States.
Sep 12
Lady Gaga wore a full outfit made of meat for the MTV Video Music Awards.
She wore a dress, shoes, and a hairpiece, all made from raw cuts of meat.
Sep 24
The American biographical drama movie “The Social Network” was released at the New York Film Festival.
Oct 13
All 33 miners trapped after a mining accident in Chile were rescued after being stuck underground for 69 days.
The accident happened on August 5, 2010, at the San José copper-gold mine in the Atacama Desert. The men were stuck 296.6 ft (700 m) under the surface, and it cost $20 million for the rescue mission.
Oct 25
Taylor Swift’s third studio album “Speak Now” was released. It won Billboard’s 2011 Album of the Year.
Nov 19
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, based on J.K. Rowling’s 2007 fantasy novel, was released worldwide.
Nov 29
British singer-songwriter Adele released her hit single “Rolling in the Deep.”
It won awards for Billboard’s Record of the Year 2011 and the Grammy’s Album and Record of the Year 2012.
Dec 6
A first edition of “The Birds of America” by John James Audubon was auctioned at Sotheby’s, London, England, for £7,321,250 – which took the record for any book at auction.
Dec 8
SpaceX became the first private company to launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft.
The SpaceX mission couldn’t have gone off any better, with all systems reporting nominal conditions the whole way through. This milestone had only previously been achieved by national space agencies such as NASA and Roscosmos.
Dec 22
The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy was repealed.
This policy had been in place for seventeen years before it was repealed. It banned homosexuals from serving openly in the US military. President Barack Obama signed the repeal.
Famous Deaths
Here’s a glimpse at a few famous people who bid us farewell in 2010.
1971
2010
Corey Haim
Canadian
Actor
1971
2010
Corey Haim
Corey Haim was a Canadian actor born on December 23, 1971. He died on March 10, 2010, at age 38 in Burbank, California, USA.
Died On:
Mar 10, 2010 (Age 38)
Died In:
California, USA
1926
2010
Leslie Nielsen
Canadian
Actor
1926
2010
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor born on February 11, 1926. He died on November 28, 2010, at age 84 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Died On:
Nov 28, 2010 (Age 84)
Died In:
Florida, USA
Quotes
Here’s a roundup of the most memorable quotes people said in 2010.
Feb 24
We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.
2010 In Music
In 2010, the music scene was ablaze with a mix of unforgettable tunes that left an indelible mark on our hearts!
From the infectious pop sound of “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars to the soulful ballad “Forget You” by CeeLo Green, these songs captured our hearts and made 2010 a year to remember in the world of music.
Don’t overlook these music highlights from 2010 that are worth mentioning.
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift’s country-pop sensation “Fearless” stole hearts and the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2010, showcasing her undeniable talent and infectious charm.
Song of the Year
Beyoncé ruled the airwaves and dance floors in 2010 with her empowering anthem “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” winning her the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band’s heartfelt lyrics and captivating harmonies won them the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2010, solidifying their place in the world of country music.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
The 55th Eurovision Song Contest unfolded in Oslo, Norway, in 2010, setting the stage for a mix of vibrant and diverse performances.
Lena, a young and vibrant singer from Germany, charmed viewers with her infectious song “Satellite,” securing Germany’s second win in Eurovision history.
2010 in Numbers
Let’s explore the world of numbers! 2010 is written as MMX in Roman numerals and as 11111011010 in binary.
Harshad Number
2010 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 + 1 + 0), which equals 3. And now we see if 2010 can be divided evenly by 3, which it can! 2010 ÷ 3 = 670. So this makes 2010 a Harshad number.
Abundant Number
Also, 2010 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 2010 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30, 67, 134, 201, 335, 402, 670, 1005), they add up to 2886, which is greater than 2010.
Oh, and here’s one last fact for you! If you’re curious to know how long it would take you to count to 2010, we’ve already done the math for you! It would take you roughly 33 minutes and 30 seconds!
Chinese Zodiac 2010
According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 was the Year of the Tiger, which occurs every twelve years.
The Chinese zodiac isn’t just based on animals, though, as the cycle also incorporates the five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold (Metal), and Water. This makes 2010 the Year of the Gold Tiger, which only comes along once every sixty years.
Did you know that the Chinese calendar follows a lunar cycle? That’s why the Year of the Gold Tiger actually started on February 14th, and lasted until February 2, 2011.
People born in the Year of the Tiger are often courageous, confident, and independent. They possess a charismatic personality, are natural leaders, and are known for their adventurous spirit.
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are shining examples of the success and talent that can be found among those born in the Years of the Tiger!
2010 Trivia
Did you know that the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was officially opened to the public in 2010?
It stands at an impressive height of 2,722 ft (830 meters), cost $1.5 billion, and took six years to build!
