The year 2024 marked a turning point, characterized by significant achievements in medicine, space exploration, technology, and politics. These events have reshaped the world and set the course for the future. Here are 10 key moments that defined this year.
1. Trump’s Return: A New Direction in American Politics
Donald Trump returned to the White House, defeating Democratic candidate and sitting Vice President Kamala Harris. One of the most shocking events of the campaign was an assassination attempt on Trump’s life just weeks before the election. Despite the turmoil, the incident only bolstered support for his campaign. Trump’s return was accompanied by new measures in immigration policy, a loosening of environmental laws, and a more aggressive foreign policy stance.
2. Chaos in the Middle East: Regime Changes and Escalating Tensions
The Assad regime in Syria collapsed, but this led to intensified fighting among various factions. Meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and Palestine escalated, with over 40,000 casualties reported. Efforts for peace have yielded no results, and the region is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Tensions between Israel and Iran also reached a critical point. In April, Iran launched a large-scale missile and drone attack in response to an Israeli strike that killed three Iranian generals and staff at Iran’s embassy in Damascus. These events brought the region to the brink of all-out war.
3. Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment: The mRNA Vaccine Revolution
The development of BNT116, the first mRNA vaccine for treating lung cancer, marked a revolutionary step in medicine. Utilizing the same technology as COVID-19 vaccines, it “trains” the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. The vaccine is undergoing clinical trials in seven countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Initial results have been promising, offering hope to millions. This breakthrough is reshaping approaches to cancer treatment and paving the way for future innovations.
4. SpaceX Confirms Leadership in Space Exploration
In 2024, SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by successfully landing a rocket booster back at its launch site after liftoff. Additionally, in September, two private astronauts from the Polaris Dawn mission—backed by Elon Musk and billionaire Jared Isaacman—conducted the first commercial spacewalk. Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis exited the Crew Dragon spacecraft to test new spacesuits. The company also set a record by launching the highest number of satellites in a single mission. These achievements cemented SpaceX’s leadership in space exploration.
5. Paris Olympics: Breaking Debut and New Heroes
Breaking (commonly known as breakdancing) made its Olympic debut at the Paris Games this year. Gold medals were awarded to Japan’s Ami Yuasa and Canada’s Phil Wizard (Philip Kim). However, Australian athlete Rachael Gunn, with her unique interpretation of breaking, including the now-famous “kangaroo hop,” became a viral sensation.
6. Cyberattacks Undermine Security
2024 witnessed some of the most significant cyberattacks, which rocked the U.S. healthcare sector. The most severe attack paralyzed hospitals in multiple states, blocking systems and leaving thousands of patients without timely care. One of the largest breaches compromised the data of over 100 million people, including medical records and payment information—an unprecedented case in U.S. healthcare history. Hackers used powerful ransomware, demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms to restore access. Another incident affected Ascension Health, compromising the data of 5.6 million patients. These breaches heightened the urgency for governments and private companies to implement stronger security measures.
7. Success in Pig Kidney Transplantation
2024 marked a significant moment in transplantation: 62-year-old Richard Slayman became the first American patient to receive a genetically modified pig kidney at Massachusetts General Hospital. Although doctors were optimistic that the organ would function for at least two years, Richard passed away two months later due to unrelated medical issues. Experts believe that successful transplantation of non-human tissues, cells, and organs could offer groundbreaking opportunities for thousands of patients.
8. A Super-Earth in the Habitable Zone
NASA announced a groundbreaking discovery—an exoplanet 137 light-years away, named TOI-715 b, which may be habitable. According to scientists, the planet is about 1.5 times the size of Earth and resides in the “conservative habitable zone,” orbiting a small red star. The habitable zone refers to a planet situated at the perfect distance from its star for liquid water to exist on its surface, without freezing or evaporating. Dubbed a “Super-Earth,” this discovery provides hope for finding extraterrestrial life and opens new avenues for studying stellar systems.
9. HIV Prevention Breakthrough: Lenacapavir
2024 brought outstanding results in clinical trials of lenacapavir, a new drug for HIV prevention. Two large trials, sponsored by Gilead Sciences, demonstrated success: one reported a 96% effectiveness rate, while the other achieved 100%. Lenacapavir works as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and is administered subcutaneously only twice a year, offering a convenient alternative to daily pills like Truvada. The drug targets HIV’s capsid protein, which protects the virus’s genetic material. This breakthrough was named “Breakthrough of the Year” by the journal Science and holds promise for developing vaccines against other viruses.
10. Artificial Intelligence: A New Era of Evolution
2024 witnessed remarkable advancements in artificial intelligence. The most discussed development was the creation of GPT-4, which integrated multimodal capabilities, enabling it to process text, images, and even videos. This technology has unlocked unprecedented opportunities in science, business, and education. Additionally, AI algorithms successfully performed autonomous medical surgeries in real time, a milestone in healthcare applications. Advancements in generative models also sparked intense debates on ethics, copyright, and potential risks, prompting governments to accelerate legislation for AI regulation.
