2013 was a year filled with incredible moments and remarkable achievements. From the release of Disney’s “Frozen” to Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon victory, the world was captivated by these unforgettable events.
This year, we witnessed some memorable occurrences, such as Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, making history as the first papal resignation since 1415.
In the realm of technology, 2013 saw significant advancements with the introduction of the iPhone 5S featuring Touch ID. And, of course, we can’t forget that the short-lived but memorable Google Glass was released as a prototype this year.
Also, 2013 marked the inception of the Black Lives Matter hashtag, paving the way for a powerful social movement.
Continue reading to delve into the historic events, newsworthy happenings, and legacies left behind by prominent individuals who passed away in 2013.
Events
Here you’ll witness the remarkable events that left an indelible mark on our world in 2013.
Jan 8
Twenty One Pilots released their third studio album called “Vessel.”
Ironically, the album reached 21 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Jan 19
Seven-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, admitted doping during all wins on Oprah Winfrey.
Jan 30
South Korea’s first launch vehicle successfully reached orbit for the first time.
The launch vehicle, Naro-1, was a two-stage rocket with a modified Russian Angara URM as the first stage and a solid-fuel second stage constructed by South Korea’s national space agency. The first two attempts to launch were total failures, with the Naro-1 exploding in mid-air. This third attempt successfully carried a South Korean Science and Technology Satellite 2C (STSAT-2C) into orbit.
Jan 31
The French government made it so that Parisian women could legally wear pants.
The 213-year-old ban was officially lifted on this day.
Feb 1
House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey, was released as a Netflix Original.
House of Cards was one of Netflix’s first original series to gain a significant audience.
Feb 5
The House of Commons voted in favor of same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom.
Same-sex marriages in England and Wales began at midnight on March 29, 2014.
Feb 26
Nineteen tourists were killed in a hot air balloon crash in Luxor, Egypt.
There were twenty-one people on board when a gas leak caused the balloon to deflate and crash to the ground.
Mar 5
Willcom announced the world’s smallest and lightest phone.
The “WX06A” phone is exactly 32 grams and measures just 32 x 70 x 10.7 mm, making it still today’s smallest and lightest.
Mar 21
The world’s largest postage stamp was released.
The Mother of Emirates postage stamp entered the Guinness World Records after measuring 1.36 x 1.77 meters.
Mar 26
Ariana Grande released her first single, “The Way.”
It made it to 6th on BIllboard’s Hot 100 and went Triple Platinum, selling over 3 million copies.
Apr 11
Paleontologists unearthed dinosaur eggs with embryonic bones inside in China.
The fossilized eggs are said to be 190 million years old!
Apr 18
Two Earth-like planets in one solar system were discovered.
Astronomers found a system with a sun-like star and five orbiting planets.
Apr 24
A garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, collapsed.
The disaster claimed the lives of 1,134 people, and more than 2,500 were injured. The event caused many protests worldwide, demanding changes to improve working conditions for people working in garment factories.
May 14
Dan Brown released his fourth novel in the Da Vinci Code series, Inferno, which became an instant success.
May 19
Sweden defeated Switzerland in the 2013 World Ice Hockey Championship.
It was the 77th event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
May 21
Microsoft announced the release of the Xbox One.
Microsoft publicly unveiled the new console’s name in a press conference and presented it as an all-in-one home entertainment device.
Jun 14
The Last of Us was released exclusively for the PlayStation 3.
Developed by Naughty Dog, this action-packed game tells the story of a smuggler who escorts a teenager through the USA after an apocalypse.
Jul 12
Seven people were killed when a French passenger train derailed in Brétigny-Sur-Orge.
The accident was France’s most severe train crash since the 1988 Gare de Lyon accident, in which 56 people lost their lives.
Aug 8
A male cheerleader shot and killed four people, and injured four more at two locations in Dallas, Texas.
When the attacker was found, he pretended he was one of the victims too.
Aug 10
The 14th IAAF World Championships opened in Moscow, Russia.
Russia won the most medals until a later date when a Russian athlete failed an anti-doping test.
Aug 15
Kristofer Helgen announced the discovery of the olinguito, a mammal of the raccoon family Procyonidae.
The olinguito was the first new carnivorous species found in the Americas in 35 years.
Sep 20
Grand Theft Auto V smashed records after topping $1 billion in sales.
GTA-V reached this milestone just three days after the game was released.
Nov 8
Category five Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines and claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people with gusts up to 145 miles per hour.
Nov 13
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Hawaii.
The bill passed through the state legislature and was signed into law by Hawaiian Governor Neil Abercrombie on the same day. The new law came into effect on December 2nd, with many same-sex couples choosing to get married on the first day of legalization.
Nov 15
Sony released their PlayStation 4 in North America and sold one million units within 24 hours.
Nov 18
NASA’s MAVEN space probe was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The probe’s mission was to study the escape of Mars’ atmospheric gases into space, to try and understand more about the history of Mars’ climate.
Dec 8
Metallica became the first band to have performed on all seven continents when they held a concert in Antarctica.
“Freeze ’em All,” as Metallica dubbed the show, was held in a giant dome to protect the audience of 120 from the harsh elements. The audience had to listen to the band through headphones for fear of loud amplified music negatively affecting the delicate ecosystem of Antarctica.
Dec 11
British physicist Stephen Hawking won the $3 million Fundamental Physics Prize, the most profitable academic prize in the world.
Dec 30
A bombing took place on a trolleybus in Russia.
In Volgograd, Russia, 16 people were killed in a bomb attack on a trolleybus, leaving 41 injured. A terrorist Jihadist organization later took claim for the attack.
Famous Deaths
Here’s a glimpse at a few famous people who bid us farewell in 2013.
1973
2013
Paul Walker
American
Actor
1973
2013
Paul Walker
Paul Walker was an American actor born on September 12, 1973. He died on November 30, 2013, at age 40 in Santa Clarita, California, USA.
Died On:
Nov 30, 2013 (Age 40)
Died In:
California, USA
1918
2013
Nelson Mandela
South African
President
1918
2013
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a South African president born on July 18, 1918. He died on December 5, 2013, at age 95 in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Died On:
Dec 5, 2013 (Age 95)
Died In:
Johannesburg, South Africa
1925
2013
Margaret Thatcher
English
Politician
1925
2013
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher was an English politician born on October 13, 1925. She died on April 8, 2013, at age 87 in London, England, UK.
Died On:
Apr 8, 2013 (Age 87)
Died In:
England, UK
Quotes
Here’s a roundup of the most memorable quotes people said in 2013.
Jan 11
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
Maya Angelou
American Memoirist
Jul 17
However happy people say they are, nobody is satisfied: we always have to be with the prettiest woman, buy a bigger house, change cars, desire what we do not have.
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Lyricist
2013 In Music
2013 was a year filled with chart-topping hits that became instant classics!
From the catchy pop sound of “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams to the infectious beats of “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams, these songs brought the party to life and kept us dancing till dawn.
Enhance your knowledge of the music highlights from 2013 that you should be aware of.
Album of the Year
Mumford & Sons’ soul-stirring alternative album “Babel” resonated deeply with fans in 2013, securing them the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Song of the Year
In 2013, the band Fun., accompanied by the talented Janelle Monáe, celebrated their win of the Grammy Award for Song of the Year with their anthemic track “We Are Young.”
Best New Artist
Fun’s catchy pop anthems and energetic performances earned them the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2013, making them a staple of the pop music scene.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, the 58th edition, took place in Malmö, Sweden, capturing the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide.
Emmelie de Forest, a radiant singer from Denmark, emerged victorious with her ethereal song “Only Teardrops,” captivating the audience with her mesmerizing voice.
2013 in Numbers
Are you ready for some interesting number facts? Well, here goes! If you ever wondered how to write 2013 in Roman numerals, it’s MMXIII, where M stands for 1000, X is 10, and I is 1. And when converted to binary, 2013 becomes 11111011101.
Chinese Zodiac 2013
According to the Chinese calendar, 2013 was not only the Year of the Snake, but the Year of the Earth Snake. This cycle happens once every sixty years.
Because the Chinese calendar is different than ours, the Year of the Water Snake actually began on February 10th, and continued until January 30, 2014.
The Snake symbolizes individuals who are wise, intuitive, and graceful. They have a deep understanding of human nature and are excellent at keeping secrets, making them great confidants and advisors.
Tom Brady, John Cena and Kanye West are notable figures who were born in the Years of the Snake!
2013 Trivia
Did you know that Grand Theft Auto V earned over $800 million in sales within its first 24 hours of release in September 2013?
The game was launched on September 17, 2013, and also achieved an impressive Guinness World Record.
GTA V secured the title for “Fastest Entertainment Property to Gross $1 Billion,” accomplishing this remarkable feat in just three days after its release.
