2006 was a year of significant change and memorable moments across various fields, marking milestones in technology, entertainment, and science.
This year saw Facebook and Twitter, two now-ubiquitous social media platforms, open their doors to the general public, revolutionizing how we connect and communicate.
In the realm of space exploration, NASA published groundbreaking photographs indicating the presence of liquid water on Mars, sparking renewed curiosity about the possibility of life beyond Earth.
The entertainment industry was abuzz with the debut of Miley Cyrus as the wholesome teenager Hannah Montana and the release of Sacha Baron Cohen’s film Borat, which brought a mix of humor and controversy to the big screen.
Tragically, 2006 was also the year we lost the beloved wildlife expert and environmentalist Steve Irwin, who died after a stingray attack.
Continue reading to discover the momentous events, headline-making news, iconic music releases, and notable losses that marked 2006.
Historical Events
Here we'll rewind to 2006 and relive the exhilarating moments that made it a year to remember.
January 2006
Jan 24
Walt Disney announced it was going to buy Pixar.
The sale of the computer animation film studio Pixar cost Disney $7.4 billion. The deal was approved the following day.
February 2006
March 2006
Mar 21
The first-ever Tweet was published on Twitter.
Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, wrote the first tweet. His first message was posted at 09:50 on this day and said, "just setting up my twttr."
May 27
The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake occurred.
This 6.4 magnitude earthquake killed over 5,700 people and left 200,000 people homeless. The damage effects were limited in public infrastructure and lifelines, while housing and private businesses took the most of the damage.
June 2006
Jun 21
Two newly discovered moons orbiting Pluto were named Nix and Hydra.
Nix is named after the Greek goddess of darkness and night, who also happens to be the mother of Charon. Hydra, on the other hand, is named after a mythological multi-headed serpent that Hercules defeated. Nix and Hydra were only first spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope in June 2005, partially because their orbits are much further out than Pluto's previously known moon, Charon.
Jun 24
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest premiered at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California.
The movie had a budget of $225 million but amassed $1.066 billion at the Box Office.
July 2006
Jul 13
British singer-songwriter Lily Allen released her first album, “Alright, Still,” in the UK.
Jul 15
Twitter was launched to the public.
It rapidly became one of the largest social media platforms in the world.
August 2006
Aug 25
Naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor discovered the world’s tallest tree in Redwood National Park, California.
Atkins and Taylor named the tree Hyperion, which measured 380.1 ft (115.85 m) tall, making it the largest known tree on earth.
Aug 31
Two of Edvard Munch’s stolen artworks were found after being missing for two years.
In August 2004, two gunmen took the famous "Scream" and "Madonna" paintings from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, and got away in a third suspect's car. The paintings were found in Norway after a police raid on this day and were still in excellent condition.
September 2006
Sep 6
Stephanie Myers published New Moon, the second novel in the Twilight series.
At first, only 100,000 copies of New Moon were printed, which was far from enough to make up for the enormous demand for the romantic vampire fantasy novel. As a result, eager fans clamoring for the second book spent hundreds of dollars per copy on auction sites like eBay.
Sep 7
Sacha Baron Cohen’s mockumentary “Borat” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
However, the projector broke twenty minutes into the showing, and all attempts to fix the equipment failed. So, the film was successfully screened the following night.
October 2006
Oct 17
The US population reached 300 million people.
When the US reached 200 million in 1967, some officials believed that 300 million people in the US would threaten the quality of life in America.
November 2006
Nov 5
Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death after being found guilty of crimes against humanity.
It took the Iraqi Special Tribunal more than two years to lay the charges on the former Iraq President. Several incidents during the trial slowed down the process, including the attempted assassination of Saddam's lawyers and the replacement of one of the judges.
Nov 19
The Nintendo Wii was released in the US.
The Wii was Nintendo's fifth major home game console, following the GameCube.
December 2006
Dec 30
The Madrid Barajas International Airport was bombed.
A van bomb exploded in the Terminal 4 parking area of the airport, which killed two and injured 52. Claim for the attack was taken by a separatist group, ETA - Euskadi Ta Askatasuna.
Famous Births
Discover the well-known names who were born in 2006.
Famous Deaths
See who passed away in 2006 and left behind a lasting legacy.
1933 — 2006
James Brown
American Singer James Brown was born on May 3, 1933. He died on December 25, 2006, at age 73 in Georgia, USA.
1962 — 2006
Steve Irwin
Australian Zookeeper Steve Irwin was born on February 22, 1962. He died on September 4, 2006, at age 44 in Queensland, Australia.
1913 — 2006
Gerald Ford
American President Gerald Ford was born on July 14, 1913. He died on December 26, 2006, at age 93 in California, USA.
1937 — 2006
Saddam Hussein
Iraqi Politician Saddam Hussein was born on April 28, 1937. He died on December 30, 2006, at age 69 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Quotes
These quotes help paint a picture of what 2006 was like.
2006 in Music
2006 was a year filled with chart-topping hits that became instant classics!
From the infectious hooks of “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean to the heartfelt ballad “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, these songs brought joy and excitement to our ears, making 2006 a year to remember.
Here are some music highlights from 2006 that you should know.
Album of the Year
U2’s rock anthem-filled album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” rocked the Grammy stage in 2006, securing them the coveted Album of the Year award.
Song of the Year
U2’s heartfelt anthem “Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own” resonated deeply with audiences, leading them to win the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2006.
Best New Artist
John Legend’s soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics won him the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2006, establishing him as a modern-day R&B icon.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
The 51st Eurovision Song Contest took place in Athens, Greece, in 2006, offering a blend of contemporary and traditional sounds.
Lordi, an extraordinary Finnish band, rocked the stage with their hard-hitting song “Hard Rock Hallelujah,” delivering Finland’s first Eurovision triumph.
2006 In Numbers
Time for some number fun! If you’ve ever wondered what 2006 looks like in Roman numerals, it’s written as MMVI. And if we represent 2006 in binary form, it becomes 11111010110.
Deficient Number
2006 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 2006 (1, 2, 17, 34, 59, 118, 1003), they add up to 1234, which is less than 2006.
Chinese Zodiac 2006
There are twelve Chinese Zodiac signs, which cycle through and change every year. In the Chinese system, there are also five elements, with 2006 being the Year of the Fire Dog, which only occurs every 60 years.
In the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Dog didn’t begin on January 1st. Instead, it kicked off on January 29th. This is due to the fact that the Chinese calenar is based off the lunar cycle.
Those born in the Year of the Dog are typically loyal, honest, and trustworthy individuals. They possess a strong sense of justice, are reliable friends, and have a protective nature.
Justin Bieber, Donald Trump and Nicki Minaj are notable figures who were born in the Years of the Dog!
2004 Trivia
Did you know that in 2006, around 50% of honeybee colonies mysteriously vanished?
This alarming event was attributed to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD occurs when the majority of worker bees disappear from a hive, leaving behind the queen, food stores, and a few nurse bees.
The exact cause of CCD remains unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of factors such as pesticide exposure, parasites like the Varroa mite, diseases, poor nutrition, and stress from environmental changes and migratory beekeeping practices.
