In 2012, the world was gripped by the belief that the apocalypse was imminent on December 21st, as predicted by the Mayan Calendar. However, the world did not meet its fiery end.
Instead, a different kind of explosion took place on YouTube as Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became the first video to reach one billion views, captivating audiences worldwide.
Another notable YouTube sensation of the year was the documentary “Kony 2012,” which became the most-liked video on the platform, shedding light on a Ugandan warlord.
For the United States, 2012 was a monumental year, with American Olympic athletes bringing home an astounding 48 gold medals.
It was also the year when “The Avengers” movie premiered, smashing box-office records and earning over $1.5 billion globally. The superhero ensemble film not only dominated the silver screen but also claimed the title of the highest-grossing film of 2012.
While 2012 may have escaped the clutches of an apocalypse, it left an indelible mark with viral sensations, sporting triumphs, and record-breaking cinematic achievements.
Step into 2012 and uncover the moments, quotes, and people that left their mark.
Historical Events
Embark on a thrilling adventure through the year 2012 and uncover the extraordinary events that shaped our history.
January 2012
February 2012
Feb 13
The European Space Agency successfully launched the Vega launch rocket for the first time.
The launch took off from the Centre Spatial Guyanais, otherwise known as Europe's Spaceport, located in French Guiana. The Vega's maiden flight carried nine satellites into orbit - two science satellites and seven miniature satellites called CubeSats. The mission was a complete success.
Feb 28
The largest prehistoric penguin was discovered.
The penguin species Kairuku grebneffi was discovered from a 27 million-year-old fossil, which showed the penguin to weigh around 132 lbs (60 kg) and stood at nearly 5ft tall (1.5 meters).
March 2012
Mar 16
George Clooney and Martin Luther King III were arrested at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC.
The arrest happened amid protests against the government in Khartoum. George Clooney said he was expecting to be arrested when he planned the protest.
Mar 19
Wendy’s became the world’s second best-selling hamburger chain, overtaking Burger King.
Mar 26
James Cameron dove into the deepest point of the Marianas Trench, Challenger Deep.
Challenger Deep is around 36,300 ft (10,902 meters) deep. Cameron was the second person to reach such depths, and it took 2 hours and 36 minutes to get to the bottom.
April 2012
May 2012
May 25
SpaceX’s Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to dock at the International Space Station.
The spacecraft was named after the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" as a response to those who said the project was impossible. In addition to succeeding, Dragon also made a cargo delivery to the ISS on its voyage.
July 2012
Jul 23
The first US woman in space, Sally Ride, died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.
Jul 27
Queen Elizabeth II of England declared the 30th Olympics opened in London, UK.
To the audience's surprise, a stand-in for the Queen made an entrance by skydiving from a helicopter with James Bond's assistance.
Jul 31
Michael Phelps broke the world record for the most medals won at the Olympics.
With a total of six medals (four gold and two silver), he broke the previous record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina.
August 2012
Aug 8
Flooding in Manila, Philippines, claimed the lives of at least 72 people, and 850,000 others were forced to leave their homes.
Aug 16
Julian Assange, who founded WikiLeaks, was given political asylum by Ecuador.
Assange had been hiding out at the Ecuadorian Embassy in Knightsbridge, London.
Aug 26
New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko won the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open golf tournament in British Columbia at 15 years old, making her the youngest player to win.
September 2012
Sep 23
Iran blocked access to Google and Gmail due to an anti-Islam movie that triggered protests worldwide.
Sep 24
China banned all literature from Japan or by Japanese authors.
An anti-Japanese campaign began in China following the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands dispute between the two countries, which Japan stole back in 1931. Anything produced in Japan was boycotted, and shops began not to stock Japanese goods.
October 2012
Oct 21
Native American Kateri Tekakwitha became the first native to become a saint.
Tekakwitha was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.
November 2012
Nov 10
Seventeen soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash during bad weather in Turkey.
The disaster happened in the Pervari District, where the helicopter became surrounded by thick fog and crashed into a mountain.
Nov 13
A total solar eclipse darkened parts of northern Australia, including Queensland and the South Pacific.
Total solar eclipses create a shadow visible in a narrow path and last briefly at any given spot. Cairns, the most populous city in the path of totality, was lucky to see the Moon fully obscure the Sun for two whole minutes.
December 2012
Dec 12
After countless failures, North Korea launched its first satellite.
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 ("Bright Star" in English) was designed as an Earth-observation satellite, but international parties condemned its launch. This was largely down to the fact that the launch rocket used the same technology as a ballistic missile, which North Korea was banned from testing at the time.
Dec 21
Psy’s music video for “Gangnam Style” surpassed one billion views on YouTube, becoming the first video to do so in the website’s history.
Dec 24
Eleven kindergarten children were killed after a minivan plunged into a roadside pond in Jiangxi, China.
Dec 28
Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the US adoption of Russian children.
The Dima Yakovlev Law was signed in response to the US Magnitsky Act, which penalized Russian officials involved in a certain tax scandal. The Dima Yakovlev Law received mixed critical reception.
Famous Deaths
Some truly influential figures said goodbye in 2012.
1963 — 2012
Whitney Houston
American Singer Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963. She died on February 11, 2012, at age 48 in California, USA.
Quotes
Explore some of the quotes that came out of 2012.
Feb 1
“The good old days, when each idea had an owner, are gone forever.”
Paulo Coelho
(Brazilian Lyricist)
Dec 19
“All success comes with patience, and with patience comes power.”
Oprah Winfrey
(American TV Host)
2012 in Music
2012 was a musical time capsule filled with unforgettable hits that had us partying like it was the end of the century!
From the heartfelt tune “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye ft. Kimbra to the electrifying beats of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen, these songs captured our hearts and had us singing along wherever we went.
Enhance your knowledge of the music highlights from 2012 that you should be aware of.
Album of the Year
Adele’s powerhouse album “21” captivated the world in 2012, earning her the Grammy for Album of the Year and cementing her status as a vocal powerhouse in pop music.
Song of the Year
Adele’s powerful vocals and emotional depth resonated once again in 2012, as she claimed the Grammy Award for Song of the Year with her soul-stirring hit “Rolling in the Deep.”
Best New Artist
Bon Iver’s ethereal sound and introspective songwriting won them the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2012, captivating listeners with their atmospheric melodies.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
Baku, Azerbaijan, played host to the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, dazzling audiences with a combination of cultural flair and spectacular performances.
Loreen, a dynamic artist from Sweden, enchanted viewers with her dance-pop anthem “Euphoria,” claiming a well-deserved victory and securing Sweden’s fifth win in Eurovision.
2012 In Numbers
Let’s look at some fun number facts! In Roman numerals, 2012 is MMXII, and in binary, it’s 11111011100.
Leap Year
In 2012, February consisted of 29 days instead of the usual 28, marking it as a leap year. This periodic adjustment ensures that our calendar aligns with the Earth’s orbit, preventing significant shifts in the seasons over time.
Deficient Number
2012 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 2012 (1, 2, 4, 503, 1006), they add up to 1516, which is less than 2012.
Chinese Zodiac 2012
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2012 was designated as The Year of the Dragon, which takes place once every twelve years.
However, the Chinese zodiac also includes five elements, which are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. So not only was 2012 the Year of the Dragon, it was actually the Year of the Water Dragon, which occurs once every sixty years!
Did you know that the Chinese calendar operates on a lunar cycle? That’s why the Year of the Water Dragon actually started on January 23rd, and lasted until February 9, 2013.
Those born in the Year of the Dragon are charismatic, ambitious, and full of vitality. They have natural leadership abilities and possess a magnetic personality that draws others towards them.
Ryan Reynolds and Lil Dicky are notable figures who were born in the Years of the Dragon!
2004 Trivia
During the 2012 London Olympics, the Spanish synchronized swimming team performed their routine to music from "Star Wars."
In a surprising and delightful twist, they synchronized their routine with music from the “Star Wars” series, including the iconic Imperial March.
This unexpected fusion of genres added a memorable and entertaining element to the Olympic competition, showcasing the athletes’ creativity and versatility.
