2018 was a year marked by its share of challenges, but it also witnessed a series of positive events that restored our faith in humanity's progress. From significant strides in technology to compelling stories of resilience, here's a look at some of the most inspiring happenings from around the globe.
Statistics show that the world became a safer place in 2018. According to the Global Peace Index, worldwide conflict has been falling steadily for the past decade. Notably, the number of terrorist incidents decreased by 23%, and fewer people were displaced by conflict or persecution than in 2017.
Breakthroughs in Science and Technology
The year saw remarkable advancements in various scientific fields, improving our understanding of the universe and our place in it.
One of the standout moments was NASA's InSight lander touching down on Mars, marking the first time a spacecraft successfully landed on the planet since 2016. The lander will collect valuable data about the planet's deep interior to better understand how rocky planets like Earth and Mars formed and evolved.
Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Controversy Resolved
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 2019 sparked a fresh look into one of science's greatest achievements. A conspiracy theory claiming the moon landing was fake gained traction, but a 2018 study by a French scientist laid the controversy to rest by confirming the authenticity of the moon rocks brought back by the astronauts.
The new research used lunar mineral data that couldn't have been known at the time of the alleged hoax, providing conclusive evidence that indeed, humans walked on the moon in 1969.
AI Achieves Human Parity in Reading Comprehension
A significant milestone in artificial intelligence was reached in 2018 when a newly developed AI system achieved human parity in reading comprehension tests, matching or surpassing human performance on the Stanford Question Answering Dataset (SQuAD).
Developed by Google's research team, the system can now understand natural language context, understand nuances, and correctly answer questions based on passages from Wikipedia and other sources.
Humanitarian Efforts and Resilience
2018 was also a year of remarkable human stories, highlighting the resilience and compassion of people around the world.
Following the devastating earthquakes in central Mexico in 2017, hundreds of search and rescue volunteers, including many ordinary citizens, formed human chains tofind and dig out survivors from the rubble using their bare hands and rudimentary tools.
Youth Activism Takes Center Stage
Young people around the globe rose up and made their voices heard, campaigning for various social and environmental causes. In Sweden, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg sparked an international movement, skipping school every Friday to protest outside the Swedish Parliament, raising awareness about climate change and inspiring millions worldwide to join her 'Fridays for Future' movement.
Similarly, in 2018, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, continued to campaign for girl's education globally. She started the Malala Fund to Education girls worldwide and is now studying at Oxford, an inspiration for millions.
2018 Winter Olympics Promotes Peace and Unity
The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, offered a rare moment of unity and cooperation between the rival nations of North and South Korea. The two countries marched together during the opening ceremony, fielded a joint women's ice hockey team, and engaged in high-level talks that continue to this day.
This unprecedented display of truce and unity served as a beacon of hope, showcasing what's possible when nations put aside differences and work together.
The positive events of 2018 underscore the potential for a brighter future, one filled with progress, understanding, and cooperation. As we look ahead, let's cherish these moments and strive to build upon them, creating a world where peace, progress, and unity prevail.