Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
HEADLINES ON July 31, 2013
Full News Archive
- Headline: Warrantless Cellphone Tracking Ruling Explained. Impact: This ruling led to an explosion of privacy concerns that rippled into the tech industry, resulting in a bizarre future where people began to communicate through carrier pigeons and smoke signals to avoid being tracked. Pigeons became the new hipsters of communication.. Fact: Did you know that if you look at your phone long enough, it might just be tracking your deepest, darkest secrets? Probably best to keep that diary under lock and key..
- Headline: Mugabe's Cling to Power Amid Election Pressure. Impact: Mugabe's refusal to relinquish power spawned a series of political machinations that ensured Zimbabwe would become the poster child for 'How Not to Do Democracy.' Future leaders looked to him for inspiration on how to cling to power like a toddler refusing to share their toys.. Fact: Did you know that Mugabe's grip on power lasted longer than most people's New Year resolutions? Talk about commitment!.
- Headline: Revitalizing Paris's Financial Heart: La Défense. Impact: The revitalization of La Défense may have sparked a future trend of urban renewal that saw cities all over the world compete to see who could create the most Instagrammable financial district, leading to a bizarre phenomenon where accountants became the new rock stars.. Fact: Did you know that La Défense was once so soulless, it was rumored to be a popular meeting spot for vampires looking for a place to hang out during the day?.
- Headline: Over a Million Are Denied Bank Accounts for Past Errors. Impact: The denial of bank accounts for past errors created a black market for cash transactions, which eventually led to the invention of a new currency: the 'I.O.U.' It became an underground sensation, but no one wanted to admit they were using it.. Fact: Did you know that getting denied for a bank account is like getting rejected by your crush, but instead of heartbreak, you get fees? What a trade-off!.
- Headline: Efforts to Recruit Poor Students Lag at Some Elite Colleges. Impact: The struggles to recruit poor students at elite colleges initiated a series of debates around privilege and access that would echo through universities for decades, ultimately leading to a future where admission essays were judged based on how well you could write a sob story.. Fact: Did you know that elite colleges will often offer financial aid packages that are just as hard to decipher as a treasure map? Good luck finding your way to a degree!.