2021

Facts and Events That Happened in This Year

Dec 28

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope began the multi-day process of unfurling its sunshield.

Dec 25

The James Webb Space Telescope was launched from the Guiana Space Center.

Dec 13

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' premiered in Los Angeles. It starred Tom Holland, Toby Maguire, and Andrew Garfield.

Dec 9

Over 40 camels were disqualified from the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival's beauty pageant.

Nov 25

The crew aboard the International Space Station celebrated Thanksgiving.

Nov 12

An LA judge ruled to end Britney Spears' conservatorship, giving her control of her life after 14 years.

Nov 9

Paul Rudd was named People Magazine's 2021 Sexiest Man Alive.

Oct 24

A pair of Michael Jordan's 1984 Nike Air Ships broke the record for the highest-selling sneakers at auction.

Oct 21

Alec Baldwin accidentally used a live firearm during a movie rehearsal, during which he shot and killed a cinematographer.

Oct 17

The Russian Soyuz MS-18 spaceflight landed in the Kazakh Steppe, Kazakhstan.

Oct 5

A Russian actress and a film director were launched into space to create the world's first film in orbit.

Sep 29

Two wild boars attacked Shakira in Barcelona while she was in a park, during which they took her bag of personal items.

Sep 7

El Salvador established Bitcoin as legal tender.

Sep 3

Dennis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Sep 1

Legendary soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo broke the men's record for the most international goals.

Aug 30

The last American military evacuation plane left Kabul, ending the brutal 20-year-long War in Afghanistan.

Aug 23

Nicki Minaj's Super Freaky Girl debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot 100.

Aug 13

Supergiant Games released their most ambitious game to date, Hades, on PC, Switch, and macOS.

Aug 11

Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi officially announced his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

Jul 26

Platform diver Tom Daley won his first Olympic gold medal in men's synchronized diving, 13 years after his first Olympic games.

Jul 21

The world's fastest train, a maglev bullet train with speeds of 373 mph (600 km/h), debuted in China.

Jul 11

Italy won their second EUFA Euro soccer title after defeating England in penalty shootouts.

Jul 7

Dutch artist Wilfred Stijger broke the world record for the tallest sandcastle.

Jun 25

Former police officer Derek Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.

Jun 22

UNESCO recommended that Australia's Great Barrier Reef be listed as World Heritage Site 'in danger.'

Jun 21

Carl Nassib became the first openly-gay NFL player to play a regular-season game.

Jun 19

Thousands of pigeons went missing after a freak weather incident.

Jun 17

US President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Jun 13

US President Joe Biden met Queen Elizabeth II for tea at Windsor Castle in London.

May 26

Amazon announced the acquisition of film studio Metro Goldwyn Mayer for $8.45 billion.

May 22

Italy won the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest with MÃ¥neskin's 'Zitti e buoni.'

May 11

A nine-year-old boy died after being struck by lightning during a football coaching session in Blackpool, England.

May 7

The World Health Organization approved the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.

Apr 26

A Texas resident narrowly avoided a felony after forgetting to return a VHS rental tape after 22 years.

Apr 17

Johns Hopkins University announced that the number of people who died worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic had reached three million.

Apr 14

US President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021.

Apr 13

Simpsons voice actor Hank Azaria apologized for voicing Apu for 30 years.

Apr 9

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, died at age 99.

Mar 23

A 28-year-old man broke into a trading card shop in Japan and stole thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards.

Mar 14

Beyoncé won her 28th Grammy Award, breaking the world record for most Grammys won by an artist.

Mar 11

Prince William made a public statement saying that the British Royal Family was not a racist family.

Mar 5

Pope Francis made history when he became the first pope to visit Iraq.

Feb 25

Hasbro announced that their Mr. Potato Head brand was changing its name to be gender inclusive.

Feb 18

The Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars.

Feb 15

Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala became the first African and first woman to lead the World Trade Organization.

Feb 13

Winter Storm Uri caused blackouts and killed 82 people in Texas & northern Mexico.

Feb 10

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feb 9

Donald Trump's second impeachment trial began.

Feb 4

Doctors in New York successfully performed the world's first face and double hand transplant.

Feb 3

The UK hit a milestone after giving 10 million people a COVID-19 vaccination.