The year 2018 will forever be known as the year that people around the world willfully ingested liquid detergent as part of the infamous Tide Pod Challenge. From there, much of the year was pretty much a downhill battle.
While the US and its allies were busy bombing Syria, the world watched on as a Thai soccer team got trapped in an underground cave, only to be rescued twelve days later by Thailand’s Navy SEALS.
On top of that, Anthony Bourdain, one of the world’s most beloved food writers, lost his life.
2018 had some pretty cool things happen too! One awesome thing was when President Trump and Kim Jong Un actually sat down together and had a meeting. It was the first time a US President and a North Korean Leader stopped arguing and actually talked.
Also, in India, they launched an amazing healthcare system called Modicare. It’s the biggest in the world and now helps over 500 million people!
And hey, let’s not forget about Black Panther. That movie was incredible and won a bunch of awards. What’s even more special is that it had a mostly Black cast leading the way!
Continue reading to uncover the significant events, groundbreaking news, chart-topping music, memorable quotes, and impactful losses that made 2018 unforgettable.
Historical Events
Brace yourself for an incredible ride through the epic events that defined the unforgettable year of 2018.
January 2018
February 2018
March 2018
April 2018
May 2018
May 29
Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko faked his own death.
The media reported that Arkady had been assassinated on his way home to his Kyiv apartment. He appeared on a live Ukrainian television at a press conference the next day. The staged death was intended to expose Russian agents.
June 2018
Jun 6
Xi’an, China, introduced a pedestrian lane for people who walk while looking at their phones.
The northern Chinese city implemented the special pedestrian zones because cars were often driving on the sidewalk, putting pedestrians who ignore their surroundings at risk of injury. Those most at risk are known as "phubbers," or people who stare at their phones while walking.
Jun 12
The leaders of North Korea and the USA met for the first time ever.
US President Donald Trump met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un at the 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit in Singapore. North Korea's newly-developed nuclear capabilities largely prompted the summit. The two leaders agreed on North Korea's denuclearization in return for greater security guarantees. Further peace talks and friendlier relations were also on the table.
July 2018
Jul 15
France defeated Croatia 4-2 to win their second FIFA World Cup.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup occurred in Russia, with the final held at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. France's first goal was an own-goal by the Croatian team, which was the first time this had ever happened in a World Cup Final.
August 2018
September 2018
October 2018
Oct 26
Rockstar Games’ hit Wild-West series returned with the release of Red Dead Redemption 2.
It took over eight years to develop. Being a blockbuster Rockstar Games title, it unsurprisingly ranks as one of the most expensive video games ever made. However, all that time and money paid off, with the game raking in US$725 million in sales in its first weekend alone.
November 2018
December 2018
Famous Deaths
Take a moment to reflect on those we lost in 2018.
1992 — 2018
Mac Miller
1992 — 2018
Mac Miller
American rapper Mac Miller was born on January 19, 1992. He died on September 7, 2018, at age 26, in California, USA.
1942 — 2018
Stephen Hawking
1942 — 2018
Stephen Hawking
English physicist Stephen Hawking was born on January 8, 1942. He died on March 14, 2018, at age 76, in Cambridge, England, UK.
1922 — 2018
Stan Lee
1922 — 2018
Stan Lee
American comic book writer Stan Lee was born on December 28, 1922. He died on November 12, 2018, at age 95, in California, USA.
1969 — 2018
Verne Troyer
1969 — 2018
Verne Troyer
American actor Verne Troyer was born on January 1, 1969. He died on April 21, 2018, at age 49, in California, USA.
1924 — 2018
George H. W. Bush
1924 — 2018
George H. W. Bush
American president George H. W. Bush was born on June 12, 1924. He died on November 30, 2018, at age 94, in Texas, USA.
Quotes
Check out some of the quotes that made 2018 truly memorable.
Oct 23
I’ve been a daydreamer since day one. I much prefer looking out a window over looking at my phone.
RuPaul
American Drag Queen
Dec 9
I wanna be clear, I do not respect the SEC. I do not respect them.
Elon Musk
South African-American Entrepreneur
2018 in Music
In 2018, the music scene exploded with a mix of sensational tracks that became the soundtrack of our lives!
From the infectious rhythms of “Havana” by Camila Cabello to the heartfelt melodies of “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, these chart-toppers brought joy and excitement to our ears, making 2018 a year to remember in the world of music.
Expand your music knowledge with these highlights from 2018 that you should know.
Album of the Year
Bruno Mars brought the groove and pure pop joy with his infectious album “24K Magic” in 2018, earning him the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Song of the Year
Bruno Mars enchanted listeners in 2018 and won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year with his smooth and catchy tune, “That’s What I Like.”
Best New Artist
Alessia Cara’s soulful voice and relatable lyrics won her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2018, establishing her as a rising star in the pop music landscape.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, the 63rd edition of this fantastic celebration of music, was held in Lisbon, Portugal.
Netta, a powerhouse performer from Israel, took home the grand prize with her infectious and empowering song “Toy.”
2018 In Numbers
Get set to explore some curious and fun facts about numbers! If you’ve ever wondered what 2018 looks like in Roman numerals, it’s written as MMXVIII. And if we represent 2018 in binary form, it becomes 11111100010.
Deficient Number
2018 is recognized as a deficient number, which means that if you add up all the smaller numbers that can divide evenly into it, the sum will be less than the number itself.
So, when you add up all the smaller numbers that can divide evenly into 2018 (1, 2, 1009), they add up to 1012, which is less than 2018.
Chinese Zodiac 2018
As per the Chinese zodiac tradition, 2018 was recognized as The Year of the Dog within the twelve-year cycle.
The Chinese zodiac isn’t just animals though, they also include five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. So this makes 2018 the Year of the Earth Dog, a cycle which happens once every sixty years.
The fascinating thing about the Chinese calendar is that it operates on a lunar cycle, which means that the Year of the Earth Dog officially kicked off on February 16th, and lasted until February 4, 2019.
Those born in the Year of the Dog are loyal, honest, and trustworthy. They have a strong sense of justice and are known for their protective nature and unwavering loyalty to their loved ones.
Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, born in the Year of the Dog, have achieved fame and success in their respective fields, making them shining examples of this zodiac sign!
2018 Trivia
In 2018, the treadmill celebrated its 200-year anniversary. Originally, it was designed as a torture device.
It was designed and implemented in British prisons as a way to break the wills of idle prisoners.
It essentially looked more like a wheel you might keep in a hamster cage, and had the added benefit that the forty or so prisoners it held would power various mechanical devices like mills or water pumps!
