The Most Notable Things that Happened in 2022

As the year comes to a close, most of us do some personal reflection and take stock of the year behind us. We do this collectively too, and in 2022, a lot happened.

Let’s be real: Some of the things on this list will definitely bum you out. If you thought 2020 was apocalyptic, 2022 had its fair share of catastrophes too. But it wasn’t all bad. Here is a recap of the past 12 months: the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Global inflation rates surged to double – and even triple – digits.

Inflation is probably the lamest news story of the year. And what’s worse, we have an unnecessary war to thank for it. In 2022, nearly every nation in the world experienced rising inflation. Consumers became painfully aware of price increases early on in the year – especially at the gas pump. In many wealthier countries, this was the highest inflation rate seen in decades.

Fortunately, the IMF predicts that 2023 will see the US inflation rate decrease to 6.5% and drop another two points in 2024. Let’s hope they’re right.

A nuclear fusion breakthrough opens up a world of possibility. 

On a much cooler note, scientists finally experienced a breakthrough in their efforts to achieve “ignition” (generating more energy than was used in a nuclear reaction).

Skeptics were quick to assert that nuclear fusion isn’t a quick fix for climate change, nor a viable replacement for fossil fuels. But optimists say this scientific breakthrough is just the beginning of a clean energy revolution. Regardless of who’s right, a scientific milestone that various teams have attempted for years has finally been reached.

The Russian-Ukrainian War breaks out.

The outbreak of war is definitely the most horrific and heartbreaking event on this list. With millions of Ukrainians displaced and thousands of innocent lives lost, there is no excuse for the atrocities that have occurred at the hands of the Russian military. Having begun in February, the two countries now face the sobering reality of nearly one year at war.

Maya Angelou got her own quarter.

Maya Angelou’s reputation precedes her. She’s known as one of the most beloved authors, poets, and civil rights activists of her time. So many were excited to hear that she’d be the first black woman ever featured on a US quarter.

She joins the ranks of Helen Keller, Susan B. Anthony, and just a few other women featured on US currency to date. 

The cryptocurrency rollercoaster happened.

The dramatic ups and downs of the crypto market were its own news saga in 2022. At the start of the year, Bitcoin enthusiasts were confidently riding the wave of the 2021 record high. But just a few months later, the currency took a nosedive erasing most of that progress.

The failure of terraUSA in May further damped enthusiasm, and the collapse of FTX in November put another nail in the coffin of crypto’s dismal year. Whether 2022 will be just a blip in the radar or the beginning of the end of cryptocurrency is yet to be seen.

Abortion rights were revoked.

In a bizarre turn of events, Roe v. Wade was overturned nearly 50 years after being instated. The Supreme Court made its decision in June 2022 to the shock and dismay of women all over the country. Protests raged as women asserted that their reproductive rights and bodily autonomy were suddenly being threatened again.

A domino effect ensued with health clinics being forced to close and women traveling out of state for abortions. Why the issue re-emerged after decades of relative quiet isn’t quite clear, but as usual, the right and left have polar opposite opinions.

Conversion Therapy was banned in Canada.

Just as 2022 kicked off, word spread that Canada would be criminalizing conversion therapy. 

Religious groups popularized the idea that homosexuals could be converted into heterosexuals (aka ‘praying away the gay’). Many advocates of the bill say it goes a long way in protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s just say it’s probably a good thing that Canada decided to do away with this unique type of “therapy” once and for all.

Natural disasters ensued around the world. 

There were countless natural disasters in 2022, stoking concerns that the consequences of climate change have finally arrived. Some of the deadliest of these disasters were floods affecting India, Afghanistan, Africa, Pakistan, and Brazil. Meanwhile, a moderate earthquake rocked Indonesia and East Africa was burdened by an intense drought… just to name a few.

With nations lacking the emergency supplies to deal with such large-scale catastrophes, climate experts are worried these events will only become more commonplace as the world heats up.

Americans love marijuana, not cigs.

Depending on your views, you might consider this one a progressive step in the right direction (or a terrible epidemic that has befallen our nation). In 2022 it became official that more Americans smoked marijuana than cigarettes.

The decrease in carcinogenic cigarette smoking is an unarguable win, but opinions about pot are typically more nuanced across the population. Most states have now legalized medical marijuana and many have legalized recreational marijuana. Basically, America as a whole is embracing the plant while dropping their cigarette habit.

A Neanderthal family was discovered.

…No, unfortunately not alive. Thousands of years ago, a Siberian cave housed what researchers believe was a Neanderthal family – a father, teenage daughter, and several other relatives. They were able to extract the ancient DNA from the teeth and bones found in two different Russian caves.

While these aren’t the first Neanderthal remains ever found, it’s the first group living in close proximity during the same timeframe, giving researchers much more detail to work with. The landmark discovery will likely give us a better picture of what life was like for these ancient humans.

It’s certainly not everything, but those are some highlights from 2022. Whatever your thoughts on this past year, we’re wishing you a wildly successful 2023. Cheers!