It’s 2024, and like any other year, it’s definitely going to be one to remember!
We’re currently in week 17, celebrating the 118th 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 11
The ruins of an ancient lost city were discovered in eastern Ecuador.
It’s estimated that the city, which lies in Ecuador’s Upano area, was built around 2,500 years ago. The extent of the city suggests the presence of a society as large, or larger than the Aztecs or Mayans.
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 15
Greece legalized same-sex marriage and adoption, becoming the first Orthodox Christian Country to do so.
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.
Feb 25
Algeria officially inaugurated the Grand Mosque of Algiers, the world’s third-largest mosque.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially opened the new mosque. It can hold as many as 120,000 people and features an 869-foot (265-meter) minaret – the tallest in the world!
Mar 4
France became the first country in the world to include access to abortion in its constitution.
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.
Famous Deaths
Unfortunately, 2024 has also been a year we’ve had to say some goodbyes…
1961
2024
Toby Keith
American
Singer
1961
2024
Toby Keith
Toby Keith was an American singer 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
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!
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!
