World Events in 2012
London 2012 Olympic Games
London hosted a widely acclaimed Summer Olympics. Team GB won 65 medals including 29 golds. Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, and Usain Bolt became household names. Danny Boyle's opening ceremony celebrated the NHS, Mr Bean, and the Queen parachuting with James Bond.
Hurricane Sandy
The superstorm struck the US East Coast in October, causing $70 billion in damage and killing 233 people across eight countries. New York City was severely flooded, with the subway system shut down for days.
Sandy Hook School Shooting
On 14 December, a gunman killed 20 children and 6 staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The tragedy reignited the gun control debate in America but ultimately led to no federal legislation.
Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars
NASA's Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars in August using a daring sky crane manoeuvre. The one-tonne robot began exploring Gale Crater and would go on to operate for over a decade.
Syrian Civil War Escalates
What began as Arab Spring protests in 2011 escalated into full-scale civil war. The conflict drew in regional powers and created a massive refugee crisis that would reshape European politics.
Barack Obama Re-elected
Obama defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney to win a second term as US President, carrying key swing states and benefiting from demographic shifts and a recovering economy.
Music in 2012
"Somebody That I Used to Know"
Gotye ft. Kimbra
The Belgian-Australian singer's melancholy breakup anthem became a global phenomenon, spending five weeks at UK number one and becoming one of the best-selling singles of the decade.
"Somebody That I Used to Know"
Gotye ft. Kimbra
Gotye's crossover hit dominated the US charts too, spending eight weeks at number one. Its distinctive marimba riff and music video with body-painted figures were inescapable in 2012.
#1 Film of 2012
The Avengers
Box Office: $1.52 billion
Marvel's ambitious crossover brought Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk together for the first time. Directed by Joss Whedon, it proved the shared-universe model worked and changed blockbuster filmmaking forever.
Born in 2012
Prince George's contemporaries
The 2012 generation would grow up as 'Olympics babies', born during a year of national celebration in the UK
North West
Daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West (born June 2013, but often associated with this era)
Lost in 2012
Whitney Houston
Singer (I Will Always Love You, Greatest Love of All)
Age 48
Neil Armstrong
Astronaut, first person to walk on the Moon
Age 82
Robin Gibb
Singer-songwriter, member of the Bee Gees
Age 62
Donna Summer
Singer, Queen of Disco (I Feel Love, Hot Stuff)
Age 63
Patrick Moore
Astronomer and BBC presenter (The Sky at Night)
Age 89
Technology in 2012
Facebook went public in the biggest tech IPO in history. The iPhone 5 launched, and Samsung's Galaxy S III made Android a genuine rival. 4G mobile networks rolled out. Tablets were booming. Pinterest and Tinder both launched. Windows 8 arrived with its controversial tile interface.
- ● Facebook IPO valued the company at $104 billion
- ● 4G LTE networks launched in the UK
- ● Tesla Model S began deliveries
- ● Raspberry Pi launched as a $35 computer for education
Cost of Living in 2012
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £168,000 | $177,000 |
| Average salary | £26,000 | $51,000 |
| Pint of milk | 48p | $0.90 |
| Loaf of bread | £1.28 | $2.59 |
| Dozen eggs | £1.90 | $1.97 |
| Pint of beer | £3.10 | $3.70 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £5.70 | $3.63 |
| Cinema ticket | £6.90 | $7.96 |
Shop 2012 memorabilia on eBay/Amazon
The Zeitgeist of 2012
The London Olympics lifted British spirits, with Super Saturday delivering three golds in 44 minutes. Danny Boyle's opening ceremony was a love letter to British culture. K-pop went global thanks to Psy. TOWIE, Made in Chelsea, and reality TV dominated. Festival fashion and flower crowns were everywhere.
In the News in 2012
Hurricane Sandy devastated the US East Coast. The Leveson Inquiry examined press ethics in the UK. Barack Obama won a second term. The Curiosity rover landed on Mars. The Jimmy Savile scandal broke, revealing decades of abuse by the BBC presenter.