What Happened in 2008?
For many of us, 2008 seems like the good old days! We were still very much into DVDs, the first iPhone, and CDs instead of streaming platforms! Yet, it was also a time of great change and equivalent sadness.
From countless people losing their homes to wildfires and financial crises to countless more losing their jobs and financial security, 2008 was definitely a challenging time for many of us. Here are some of the biggest events from 2008 to look back on, whether or not you were there at the time.
In this year
January
Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the EU (European Union). Today, there are 27 member countries in the EU, with Croatia being the latest to join the organization. And, of course, the UK is the only nation thus far to leave the group, following the rockiness of Brexit between 2016 and 2021.
February
Fidel Castro resigned as President of Cuba. He had ruled the country since 1976. Following his departure from the presidency, he passed the power to his brother Raúl Castro. Castro was a highly divisive figure who seized power through a coup, and who remained in charge of one of the few communist states remaining.
March
How’s this for a universal first? On March 19th, 2008, the brightest-ever energy beam – a burst of gamma rays – emitted, officially becoming the brightest event in the known history of the universe. The burst was known as GRB 080319B.
April
Danica Patrick made motor racing history on April 20th, 2008, having become the very first female driver to win a race in the IndyCar Series! She won the Indy Japan 300, which took place at Twin Ring Motegi. She was driving for Andretti Green Racing at the time.
May
Barack Obama officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination in the US. In doing so, he became the first African-American to do so. He also became the first-ever African-American President of the country – a man not afraid to set some firsts!
June
The European Union’s Lisbon Treaty was thrown into mild chaos on June 12th, 2008, as the Republic of Ireland’s referendum decided to reject joining the clauses.
July
As of July 1st, Denmark sent concerning shockwaves across the globe as it announced it was the first nation to experience a recession on the back of the rising global credit crunch.
August
Russia officially invaded Georgia on August 7th, 2008, as a result of Georgian forces reacting against separatists backing the Federation. This event would lead to the Russo-Georgian War, which was considered the first land-based war of its kind in the 2000s. Sadly, it wouldn’t be the last time Russia mounted an invasion this century.
September
A first in Australian politics unfolded on September 5th, with Quentin Bryce becoming the nation’s Governor-General. She was the very first woman to officially hold the position!
October
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was inaugurated in Switzerland on October 21st. It remains the world's most powerful particle acceleration system – and, as you can imagine, it's truly massive! It is made up of a 27-kilometer halo of magnets. It's responsible for some incredible feats, including breaking down dark matter and discovering the elusive Higgs Boson particle!
November
We got our first glimpse into Bitcoin on November 1st, 2008! It’s on this date that the cryptocurrency’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, released his book “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.” Nakamoto’s book is widely considered the cornerstone of modern crypto – and within a decade, Bitcoin would become very big news for traders and investors indeed.
December
Sticking with finance news, Bernard Madoff was arrested in December 2008 for running the largest Ponzi scheme in history. The scheme was worth an estimated $65 billion – centered around asset management. At a time of incredible financial crisis worldwide, money wasn’t exactly up for grabs…
2008 was the year of the…
…rat!
Like 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, and 2020, 2008 paid tribute to rat people everywhere, according to the Chinese Zodiac. People born in rat years are usually very sociable, kind, expressive, and talkative. They’re also hardworking and very organized. The next rat year won’t be until 2032, so be sure to get some cheese in ready!
Like our content? Like us on Facebook and never miss out!
This page was last modified on January 11, 2024. Suggest an edit
Celebrity Births in 2008
Sunday Rose Kidman Urban (Born July 7th, parents Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban)
Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt (Born July 12th, parents Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt)
Emme and Max (Born February 22nd, parents Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony)
Ignatius Martin Upton (Born April 13th, parents Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton)
Conor Marie Warren (Born June 7th, parents Jessica Alba and Cash Warren)
Famous People We Lost in 2008
Heath Ledger, Australian actor, died aged 28
Paul Newman, American actor, died aged 83
Bettie Page, American model, died aged 85
Isaac Hayes, American musician, died aged 65
Bernie Mac, American comedian, died aged 50
