2022 was definitely an upgrade from the previous year – well, for some of us.
Borders across the globe finally opened up, allowing people to finally scratch their travel itch. People went all-in on traveling, to the extent that the term “revenge travel” was coined to describe their unstoppable urge to explore after being stuck indoors for so long.
However, 2022 had its fair share of disasters. Russia kicked things off by making an appalling decision to invade Ukraine once again, while COVID-19 made an unwelcome comeback with the Omicron variant.
Amidst all the chaos, Kanye West seemed to be slowly losing his grip on reality, Elon Musk single-handedly ruined Twitter by buying it, the UK bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, and, to top it off, the cost of just about everything skyrocketed due to inflation.
And while Europe faced its worst drought in over 500 years, Pakistan was practically underwater for a good chunk of the year.
Finally, we couldn’t possibly write about 2022 without mentioning Will Smith slapping Chris Rock so hard that the entire world heard it, keeping everyone talking for months!
Continue reading to learn about the major events, notable music releases, memorable quotes, and famous deaths that defined 2022.
Historical Events
Discover the remarkable milestones and game-changing moments that made 2022 a year to be remembered.
January 2022
Jan 7
A 57-year-old man received the first transplanted heart from a genetically modified pig.
Jan 12
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted to hosting an illegal party during the first COVID-19 lockdown.
February 2022
Feb 2
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ferried a US National Reconnaissance Office payload into orbit.
The mission, NROL-87, is unfortunately highly classified, but it's assumed that its payload was a spy satellite of some sort, given the NRO built it. This was the first time a Falcon 9 rocket was used for an NRO mission. Each NRO mission has its own custom-made patch, and NROL-87 was no different - this time, the patch featured a wild mountain goat on high alert atop the peak of a mountain.
Feb 11
Koalas were listed as endangered for the first time in Australian history.
While once prolific across Australia's vast eucalyptus forests, koalas have lost large amounts of habitat due to excessive land clearing, deforestation, bushfires, and drought. The endangered listing was announced for the Australian Capital Territory and the states of Queensland and New South Wales.
Feb 24
Russia began to invade Ukraine, and was described by President Putin as a “special military operation.”
The invasion was the largest conventional military attack seen in Europe since World War II.
March 2022
Mar 4
The Batman, featuring lead actor Robert Pattinson, hit the box office in 4,217 locations in North America.
Mar 14
Dolly Parton attempted to refuse a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination.
Despite her refusal, the hall kept the nomination in place, and she was ultimately voted in. Coming to terms with the decision, Dolly Parton accepted her induction simply because it was something her fans wanted.
Mar 27
During the Oscar’s ceremony, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock following a joke directed towards Will’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Chris Rock was on the stage to present an award for best documentary when he made a joke about Jada's lack of hair, Calling her "G.I. Jane," referring to a movie that featured Demi Moore with closely cropped hair. Will Smith took offense to this and walked up to the stage and slapped the comedian.
Apr 12
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized for hosting a party during the height of Covid-19 lockdowns.
Johnson rejected calls for him to resign and instead became the first British prime minister to receive a fine for breaking the law.
Apr 17
A US National Reconnaissance Office mission launched on a reused SpaceX booster for the first time.
The mission, NROL-85, is unfortunately highly classified. However, we know that it launched a national security payload into orbit. NROL-85 used the same SpaceX Falcon 9 booster that was previously used two months earlier in NROL-87.
Apr 27
A fireball was spotted over southern Mississippi.
Numerous residents reported hearing loud booms across Clairborne County, which NASA later confirmed as a meteor. There were no injuries or reports of property damage.
May 2022
May 9
President Joe Biden signed the 2022 Lend-Lease act to send military equipment to Ukraine.
May 16
A massive dust storm struck Kuwait, which caused several flights in and out of the country to be canceled and rescheduled.
May 19
McDonald’s sold their business in Russia to a local licensee to allow him to operate the restaurants under a new brand.
The company's decision was due to the war that Russia had started with Ukraine, stating that the crisis caused by the former was no longer "consistent with McDonald's values." The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
June 2022
Jun 15
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was finally retired after twenty-six years.
For some people, Internet Explorer was the only browser they ever used, while others used it just once to download another browser. Microsoft replaced Internet Explorer with Edge.
Jun 24
The US supreme court officially overturned women’s constitutional right to abortion.
Roe v. Wade stemmed from a legal case in 1973. Later, this case became a constitutional right for women to have abortions. The decision was met with backlash from several communities stating privacy and health concerns.
Jun 28
Fifty-one concealed immigrants were found dead inside an abandoned truck on the road in San Antonio, Texas.
The truck was carrying 62 people, smuggled from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. The investigators deemed that the victims died from the intense heat inside the truck. At least three people were arrested.
July 2022
Jul 8
Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot in the city of Naga while giving a speech.
Security officials immediately tackled the suspect to the ground. The suspect was actually a former member of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force. Shinzo Abe was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead later that day.
Jul 12
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released its first groundbreaking images from space.
The new images paved the way for a new era in astronomy. One of the first full-color images was called Cosmic Cliffs. The photo was taken from a star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula.
August 2022
Aug 2
Researchers in South Korea developed a tattoo that monitors a person’s health.
The non-invasive "tattoo" applied on the skin is integrated with a wireless chip that will then be connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG) device or other biosensors. The goal was to alert the patient of any potential health issues.
Aug 21
The “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon” premiered on HBO.
"House of the Dragon" is set nearly 200 years before the events of "Game of Thrones."
Aug 25
US President Biden approved student debt loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 for those who are qualified.
Joe Biden announced this decision following an extension on multiple federal student loan payment pauses, which was first put in motion in March 2020. Of the 45 million federal student loan borrowers, 43 million qualified for some loan forgiveness.
September 2022
Sep 19
Joe Biden said that the COVID-19 pandemic was over in the country.
In an interview on 60 minutes, the president declared that the COVID-19 pandemic was over. However, the statement was criticized as COVID deaths were still at a 400-a-day average nationwide.
Sep 21
The Netflix limited series about the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was released.
"Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" followed the infamous Milwaukee serial killer, aiming to tell the gruesome story through the experience of his victims.
Sep 27
The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.
October 2022
Oct 6
A gunman killed 38 people in a daycare center in Thailand.
Among the 38 victims were 24 children, with some as young as two years old. Other victims were teachers and workers at the daycare center. The suspect was a former policeman dismissed due to drug abuse allegations. He later shot his wife, son, and himself at their home.
Oct 11
Japan opened its borders to tourists after two years of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oct 20
UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned after only 44 days in office, the shortest term in the country’s history.
Oct 22
NASA announced that 16 researchers would be a part of a nine-month study on unidentified aerial phenomena or UFOs.
The study was designed to help provide more information on the nature of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), which are sometimes mistaken for UFO sightings. This decision from The Pentagon to establish this study stemmed from UFO sightings of former Blink-182 frontman Tom Delonge to the US Navy's report of "transmedium" objects. The 16 individuals included in this research are professors, scientists, oceanographers, and others studying space.
November 2022
Nov 20
FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off in Qatar.
After much controversy regarding human rights violations, corruption, and climate concerns over Qatar hosting the world-renowned FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious tournament in the world kicked off with a match between Ecuador and Qatar.
Nov 30
Russia passed a stricter ban on “LGBT propaganda.”
Russia's upper house of parliament unanimously voted against promoting homosexual relationships in advertising, books, and films. Anyone caught violating this ban can be fined as much as 5 million rubles (around $80,000 USD).
December 2022
Dec 6
James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of the Water premiered in London.
Released thirteen years after Avatar, The Way of the Water is the second of five films set in Cameron's Avatar universe. It was celebrated for its dazzling imagery but was largely let down by its two-dimensional plot and characters.
Dec 8
Trevor Noah hosted his final episode of the late-night talk and satirical news television program “The Daily Show.”
Dec 13
New Zealand made history by passing the world’s first tobacco ban.
The controversial ban prohibits anyone born after 2009 from purchasing any tobacco products.
Dec 18
Argentina managed to snatch victory away from France at the last second in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final.
Famous Deaths
Here's a look at a few unforgettable people who passed away in 2022.
1926 — 2022
Queen Elizabeth II
English Queen Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. She died on September 8, 2022, at age 96 in Scotland, UK.
1956 — 2022
Bob Saget
1947 — 2022
Meat Loaf
American Singer Meat Loaf was born on September 27, 1947. He died on January 20, 2022, at age 74 in Tennessee, USA.
1948 — 2022
Olivia Newton-John
British-Australian Singer Olivia Newton-John was born on September 26, 1948. She died on August 8, 2022, at age 73 in California, USA.
Quotes
These are a few of the quotes that people remember from 2022.
Feb 24
“To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside – if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history.”
Vladimir Putin
(Russian Politician)
Mar 25
“Whoever you grow up to be, just be you – fully and completely you.”
Elton John
(English Singer)
Jul 7
“I am sad to be giving up the best job in the world – but them’s the breaks.”
Boris Johnson
(British Politician)
2022 in Music
2022 was a year that filled our playlists with chart-topping hits that we still can’t get enough of!
From the infectious beats of “Titi Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny to the mesmerizing melodies of “As It Was” by Harry Styles, these chart-toppers filled our hearts with joy and transported us to a world of pure musical bliss.
These music moments from 2022 should be on your must-listen list.
Album of the Year
Jon Batiste’s soulful and captivating album “We Are” took the music world by storm in 2022, earning him the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and showcasing his immense talent as an R&B/Soul artist.
Song of the Year
Silk Sonic, the dynamic duo formed by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2022 with their soulful track “Leave the Door Open.”
Best New Artist
Olivia Rodrigo’s relatable lyrics and powerful vocals won her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2022, capturing the hearts of listeners with her debut album.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
In 2022, the 66th Eurovision Song Contest took center stage in Turin, Italy.
Ukraine claimed the coveted title with Kalush Orchestra’s mesmerizing song “Stefania,” captivating audiences with their unique sound and performance.
2022 In Numbers
Let’s look at some fun number facts! If you’ve ever wondered how to write 2022 in Roman numerals, it’s MMXXII. And in binary, it’s 11111100110.
Harshad Number
2022 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 + 2), which equals 6. And now we see if 2022 can be divided evenly by 6, which it can! 2022 ÷ 6 = 337. So this makes 2022 a Harshad number.
Abundant Number
Also, 2022 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 2022 (1, 2, 3, 6, 337, 674, 1011), they add up to 2034, which is greater than 2022.
Chinese Zodiac 2022
There are twelve Chinese zodiac signs, which cycle through and change every year, and for 2022, it was the Year of the Tiger.
However, it’s fascinating to note that each zodiac animal is also connected to one of the five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. So not only was 2022 the Year of the Tiger, it was actually the Year of the Water Tiger, which occurs once every sixty years!
Unlike the Western calendar, the Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon. This means that the start of the Chinese New Year can vary from year to year. However, in 2022, the Chinese New Year began on February 1st.
The Tiger represents individuals who are brave, passionate, and fiercely independent. They exhibit a bold and adventurous nature, always seeking excitement and standing up for what they believe in.
The Years of the Tiger have blessed us with influential figures such as Queen Elizabeth II and Leonardo DiCaprio.
2004 Trivia
Did you know that in 2022 the world’s population reached 8 billion people for the first time?
The global population is growing exceptionally fast; it was 1 billion in 1803, 2 billion in 1927, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, and 5 billion in 1987.
It’s been growing steadily by a billion around every 12 years ever since!
