2016

2016 (MMXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, spanning from January 1 to December 31 and containing 366 days.^[1] The year featured several transformative global events, including the United Kingdom's Brexit referendum on June 23, in which a majority voted to leave the European Union,^[2] the United States presidential election on November 8 that resulted in Donald Trump's victory as president,^[3] the Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21,^[4] and the announcement on February 11 of the first direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration, confirming a key prediction of general relativity.^[5] These developments, alongside ongoing conflicts like the Syrian Civil War and ISIS-related insurgencies, as well as natural disasters and political upheavals in regions such as Colombia and South Korea, underscored 2016's significance in politics, science, and international relations.^[6]

Politics

Elections

The United Kingdom held a referendum on European Union membership on June 23, with 51.9% of voters opting to leave, marking a pivotal shift in British politics and EU relations.^[7] Turnout reached approximately 72%, the highest for a UK-wide vote since 1992, driven by campaigns emphasizing sovereignty under slogans like "Take Back Control."^[2] The result prompted Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation and negotiations for withdrawal.^[8] In the Philippines, the presidential election on May 9 saw Rodrigo Duterte secure victory with about 39% of the vote, propelled by promises of tough anti-crime measures amid concerns over corruption and security.^[9] Voter turnout exceeded 80%, reflecting widespread engagement in a contest featuring populist rhetoric that resonated with urban and rural demographics frustrated by incumbent governance.^[10] The United States presidential election on November 8 resulted in Republican Donald Trump defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College, 304 to 227 electoral votes, despite Clinton winning the national popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots.^[11] Trump's campaign, highlighted by the slogan "Make America Great Again," appealed to working-class voters in Rust Belt states, flipping key swing areas like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with turnout around 60%.^[12] This outcome reshaped U.S. political discourse on trade, immigration, and globalization.^[13] Austria conducted a rerun of its presidential election on December 4 following the annulment of the May result due to procedural irregularities, with independent candidate Alexander Van der Bellen defeating far-right Norbert Hofer by 53.8% to 46.2%.^[14] High turnout of over 74% underscored divisions over migration and EU integration, affirming Van der Bellen's pro-European stance in a closely watched contest.^[15]

Other political events

In Colombia, the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) signed a final peace agreement on November 24, formally concluding a 52-year internal armed conflict that had caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement.^[16] The accord outlined provisions for FARC's disarmament, political participation, and reparations for victims, marking a pivotal shift toward post-conflict reconciliation.^[17] The normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba advanced with President Barack Obama's historic visit to Havana in March, the first by a sitting U.S. president in 88 years.^[18] This trip underscored ongoing diplomatic efforts, including eased travel restrictions and commercial ties, building on the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in late 2014.^[18] At the NATO Warsaw Summit in July, alliance leaders responded to Russian military actions in Ukraine and hybrid threats by deciding to deploy multinational battlegroups in the Baltic states and Poland as part of an enhanced forward presence to bolster collective defense.^[19] The communiqué condemned Russia's violations of international norms and reaffirmed NATO's open-door policy amid regional tensions.^[19] Brazil's Senate voted 61-20 on August 31 to remove President Dilma Rousseff from office following an impeachment process over allegations of fiscal manipulation to mask budget deficits.^[20] Vice President Michel Temer assumed the presidency, ending Rousseff's tenure amid economic turmoil and political polarization.^[21]

Conflicts and terrorism

Wars and military operations

In the Syrian Civil War, government forces backed by Russian airstrikes launched a major offensive in September 2016 to retake eastern Aleppo from rebel groups, imposing a tight siege that restricted food and medical supplies to civilians.^[22] By December, the regime recaptured the entire city after intense urban combat, collapsing the rebel-held pocket and shifting momentum toward President Bashar al-Assad's control over northern Syria's largest urban center.^[23][24] The U.S.-led coalition intensified operations against ISIS in Iraq, supporting Iraqi security forces in consolidating gains from the prior recapture of Ramadi and conducting shaping operations to isolate Mosul.^[25] These efforts culminated in the launch of the Battle of Mosul on October 17, involving Iraqi troops, Kurdish Peshmerga, and coalition air support to encircle and assault the ISIS stronghold.^[26] In the Russo-Ukrainian War, ceasefire violations under the Minsk II agreement persisted throughout 2016, with intensified fighting in the Donbass region including artillery exchanges and incursions along the contact line.^[27][28] Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces clashed repeatedly, undermining truce efforts despite international monitoring.^[29] The Yemeni Civil War saw further escalation through the Saudi-led coalition's intervention, which involved sustained airstrikes and naval blockades targeting Houthi rebels since March 2015, stabilizing frontlines but prolonging the conflict into 2016 with increased cross-border attacks.^[30][31] Coalition operations aimed to restore the Yemeni government but faced resistance, including Houthi missile strikes on Saudi territory and disruptions in the Red Sea.^[32]

Terrorist attacks

On March 22, suicide bombings targeted Brussels Airport and a metro station in Maalbeek by ISIS affiliates, resulting in 32 deaths and over 300 injuries.^[33] The perpetrators included Najim Laachraoui and Khalid el-Bakraoui, who detonated explosives packed with nails and chemicals, prompting heightened security measures across Europe and the arrest of several suspects linked to the network.^[34] The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando on June 12, carried out by Omar Mateen, an ISIS-inspired attacker, killed 49 people and wounded 53 at a venue hosting a Latin night event.^[35] Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS during the assault, leading to a three-hour standoff resolved by police breaching the building, after which investigations revealed his prior FBI contacts and radicalization influences.^[36] On June 28, three ISIS suicide bombers attacked Istanbul's Atatürk Airport, killing 45 and injuring over 230 in coordinated shootings and explosions at terminals.^[37] Turkish authorities identified two attackers from Russia and Uzbekistan, with the third from Kyrgyzstan, triggering international condemnations and intensified counterterrorism operations against ISIS networks.^[37] During Bastille Day celebrations on July 14 in Nice, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 and injuring over 400, with ISIS later claiming the sympathizer as a follower.^[38] French responses included declaring a state of emergency extension and military strikes on ISIS targets, alongside trials convicting accomplices for logistical support.^[38]

Science and technology

Discoveries

In February 2016, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves, recorded on September 14, 2015, from the merger of two black holes approximately 1.3 billion light-years away, providing strong confirmation of Albert Einstein's predictions in general relativity.^[5] This breakthrough opened a new window for observing cosmic events through spacetime distortions rather than electromagnetic radiation.^[39] Astronomers announced in August 2016 the discovery of Proxima Centauri b, an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun at 4.24 light-years away.^[40] Detected via radial velocity measurements, the planet's potential to harbor liquid water depends on its atmosphere and the host star's flares, marking it as a key target for future habitability studies.^[41] NASA's analysis of recurring slope lineae (RSL) on Mars provided evidence for seasonal flows of liquid water, with 2016 studies expanding observations to widespread canyon sites and linking them to hydrated salts.^[42] These dark streaks, appearing on steep slopes during warmer months, suggest briny water activity today, informing past missions like Curiosity and future exploration for microbial life.^[43]

Inventions and milestones

NASA's Juno spacecraft achieved a major engineering milestone by arriving at Jupiter on July 4, 2016, after a five-year journey, successfully entering orbit to begin its primary mission of studying the planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and interior structure using instruments like microwave radiometers and magnetometers.^[44] In biotechnology, 2016 saw significant strides toward commercializing CRISPR-Cas9 for therapeutic applications, including demonstrations of its use to inactivate HIV-1 in patient blood cells and partnerships between companies like CRISPR Therapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, and Caribou Biosciences to develop gene-editing treatments for genetic diseases.^[45] These efforts highlighted the transition from research tool to deployable therapy, with clinical trial preparations advancing for conditions like sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia.^[46] Tesla rolled out Autopilot software updates in 2016, notably version 8.0, which enhanced semi-autonomous driving capabilities in Model S and Model X vehicles by improving radar integration for better object detection and automatic steering, lane changes, and adaptive cruise control even in adverse weather.^[47] These features represented a leap in consumer-accessible advanced driver-assistance systems, though they required driver supervision and included safety enhancements like warnings for disengagement.^[48] The release of Pokémon Go in July 2016 pioneered widespread adoption of augmented reality in mobile gaming, overlaying virtual Pokémon on real-world environments via smartphone cameras and GPS, encouraging physical exploration and achieving over 500 million downloads within its first year.^[49] Developed by Niantic, the game demonstrated scalable AR infrastructure for location-based interactions, influencing subsequent apps in gaming and beyond.^[50]

Sports

2016 Summer Olympics

The 2016 Summer Olympics took place from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the first time the event was hosted in South America. Approximately 11,300 athletes representing 205 nations competed across 28 sports and 306 events.^[51][52] The United States led the medal table with 121 medals, including 46 golds. Standout achievements included American gymnast Simone Biles securing four gold medals in the team, all-around, vault, and floor exercise events, while Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt completed a historic third consecutive Olympic triple by winning the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100-meter relay.^[53][51][54] The Games faced significant controversies, including widespread doping scandals that resulted in bans for numerous Russian athletes, especially in track and field due to state-sponsored programs. Additionally, the ongoing Zika virus outbreak raised health concerns, prompting some athletes, such as golfers, to withdraw from participation.^[55][56] The closing ceremony occurred on August 21, concluding 17 days of competition. In the aftermath, legacy challenges arose, with several venues experiencing maintenance issues and disrepair, falling short of promised long-term community benefits and contributing to financial strains on the host city.^[57][58]

Other sporting events

In association football, Leicester City achieved a historic upset by winning the 2015–16 Premier League title under manager Claudio Ranieri, defying preseason expectations as 5000–1 outsiders.^[59] The Foxes secured the championship on May 2, 2016, after Tottenham Hotspur's draw with Chelsea confirmed their seven-point lead atop the table.^[60] UEFA Euro 2016, hosted across ten venues in France from June 10 to July 10, culminated in Portugal's first major international trophy after defeating hosts France 1–0 in extra time at the Stade de France.^[61] Substitute Éder scored the decisive goal in the 109th minute, marking Portugal's triumph despite not winning any group or knockout matches in regulation time.^[62] In baseball, the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year championship drought by winning the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians in seven games, clinching the title on November 2 with an 8–7 extra-innings victory at Progressive Field.^[63] The NBA Finals featured a dramatic comeback as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3–1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors, becoming the first team in league history to rally from such a position in the championship series; they sealed the win on June 19 with a 93–89 victory in Game 7, capturing Cleveland's first NBA title.^[64]

Entertainment and culture

Film and television

In 2016, the film industry saw significant commercial success with Captain America: Civil War emerging as the highest-grossing film worldwide, earning approximately $1.15 billion.^[65] This Marvel Studios production highlighted ongoing trends in superhero franchises dominating box office revenues. Other notable releases included the animated feature Zootopia, which combined adventure and social commentary while achieving strong global earnings, and Deadpool, a R-rated superhero comedy that broke records for its genre upon its February release.^[66][67] Films like La La Land, a musical romance directed by Damien Chazelle, premiered late in the year and positioned itself as a critical favorite, setting the stage for multiple Academy Award nominations and wins in 2017.^[68] Similarly, Moonlight, an independent drama exploring identity and growth, released in limited theaters and later expanded, ultimately securing the Best Picture Oscar at the 89th Academy Awards, marking a milestone for diverse storytelling.^[69] On television, HBO's Game of Thrones returned for its sixth season in April, drawing massive viewership with episodes that advanced major plot arcs in the fantasy epic.^[70] Netflix launched The Crown in November, a historical drama series chronicling Queen Elizabeth II's reign, which premiered to acclaim for its production values and performances.^[71] These milestones underscored the growing influence of streaming platforms alongside traditional networks in shaping viewing habits.

Music and literature

In music, Adele's album 25, released in November, became the best-selling album of the year worldwide, surpassing 3 million units in sales and marking a significant commercial milestone driven by tracks like "Hello."^[72] Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade, dropped in April, explored themes of infidelity, reconciliation, female empowerment, and the Black experience in America, incorporating imagery inspired by Yoruba traditions and Southern Gothic aesthetics.^[73][74] Drake's Views dominated the U.S. charts, finishing as the top album of 2016 according to Nielsen Music data, with sustained popularity reflecting his influence in hip-hop.^[75] The year's music scene was also shaped by tributes to departed icons like David Bowie and Prince, whose losses prompted widespread commemorative performances and releases honoring their legacies.^[76] In literature, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Bob Dylan on October 13 for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," recognizing his songwriting as a literary achievement.^[77]

Disasters and health crises

Natural disasters

On April 16, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the coast of Ecuador, resulting in 676 deaths and widespread destruction, particularly in the town of Pedernales.^[78][79] In May, the Fort McMurray wildfire ignited in Alberta, Canada, becoming one of the costliest natural disasters in the country's history with damages estimated at C$9.9 billion; it forced the evacuation of approximately 88,000 residents and burned over 1.5 million acres before being contained in July.^[80][81] Hurricane Matthew, reaching Category 5 strength in October, devastated Haiti with over 1,600 fatalities from storm surge, flooding, and wind, while later brushing the U.S. East Coast and causing significant flooding and power outages in states like Florida and the Carolinas.^[82][83] Central Italy experienced a series of earthquakes in 2016, including the August 24 event near Norcia with a magnitude of 6.2 that killed 299 people, primarily in the village of Amatrice, and severely damaged historic structures across the Apennines.^[84]

Disease outbreaks

The Zika virus outbreak reached its peak in the Americas during 2016, with the virus linked to increased cases of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in newborns, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on February 1.^[85][86] The emergency status, which emphasized aggressive measures to curb transmission especially among pregnant women, remained in effect until November.^[87] A major yellow fever outbreak struck Angola and spread to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2016, resulting in over 7,300 suspected cases and necessitating widespread vaccination campaigns affecting more than 30 million people.^[88][89] The Flint water crisis saw significant federal intervention in 2016, including President Obama's declaration of a state of emergency on January 16, which authorized aid to address lead contamination and related health impacts from the municipal water supply switch initiated in 2014.^[90] Global concerns over antibiotic resistance intensified in 2016, highlighted by a United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting that underscored the need for coordinated international action against antimicrobial threats.^[91]

Notable deaths

January to June

On January 22, singer Michael Bublé and his wife Luisana Lopilato welcomed their second son, Elias Bublé.^[92] Model Chrissy Teigen and musician John Legend's daughter, Luna Simone Stephens, was born on April 14 in Los Angeles.^[93] Singer Kelly Clarkson and her husband Brandon Blackstock had their second child, son Remington Alexander Blackstock, on April 12.^[94]

July to December

Dusty Rose Levine was born on September 21 to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and model Behati Prinsloo, marking the couple's first child and extending the musician's family legacy in entertainment.^[95] Alec Baldwin and yoga instructor Hilaria Baldwin welcomed their fourth son, Leonardo Ángel Charles Baldwin, on September 12, adding to the actor's growing family amid his ongoing career in film and television.^[95] Actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively welcomed their second daughter, Inez, on September 30, continuing their high-profile partnership both on-screen and as parents.^[94] Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis announced the birth of their second child, daughter Daisy Josephine Sudeikis, on October 11, blending their comedic talents with family life.^[95] Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis gave birth to their second child, son Dimitri Portwood Kutcher, on November 30, further solidifying their status as one of Hollywood's prominent couples.^[94] These births highlighted the personal milestones of several entertainment figures during the year's latter months.

Notable births

January to June

On January 22, singer Michael Bublé and his wife Luisana Lopilato welcomed their second son, Elias Bublé.^[92] Model Chrissy Teigen and musician John Legend's daughter, Luna Simone Stephens, was born on April 14 in Los Angeles.^[93] Singer Kelly Clarkson and her husband Brandon Blackstock had their second child, son Remington Alexander Blackstock, on April 12.^[94] Actor Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah welcomed their daughter, Iris Mary Redmayne, on June 15.^[96]

July to December

Dusty Rose Levine was born on September 21 to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and model Behati Prinsloo, marking the couple's first child and extending the musician's family legacy in entertainment.^[95] Alec Baldwin and yoga instructor Hilaria Baldwin welcomed their third child and second son, Leonardo Ángel Charles Baldwin, on September 12, adding to the actor's growing family amid his ongoing career in film and television.^[95] Actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively welcomed their second daughter, later named Inez, in September, continuing their high-profile partnership both on-screen and as parents.^[94] Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis announced the birth of their second child, daughter Daisy Josephine Sudeikis, on October 11, blending their comedic talents with family life.^[95] Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis gave birth to their second child, son Dimitri Portwood Kutcher, on November 30, further solidifying their status as one of Hollywood's prominent couples.^[94] These births highlighted the personal milestones of several entertainment figures during the year's latter months.