Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
HEADLINES ON March 20, 2020
Full News Archive
- Headline: Global Race for Coronavirus Vaccine. Impact: The race for a vaccine turned scientists into national heroes, while simultaneously fueling conspiracy theories that aliens were behind the virus to distract us from intergalactic politics. Thanks to this, we now have more conspiracy podcasts than actual scientific journals.. Fact: Did you know that the most competitive vaccine race in history led to a surge in arm-related puns? Like, ‘Get your shot!’ or ‘Arm yourself with knowledge!’.
- Headline: The Struggles of a D.C. Singer. Impact: Her struggle became a rallying cry for musicians everywhere, sparking a movement that led to virtual concerts where the most popular item wasn't the music, but the donate button. This eventually resulted in the rise of 'online busking' and the corresponding invention of the 'virtual tip jar'—the best way to support artists without leaving your couch.. Fact: Fun fact: The phrase 'starving artist' took on an entirely new meaning during the pandemic when grocery budgets became a real-life game of 'Survivor: Grocery Store Edition.'.
- Headline: Millennial Homeownership Trends in New York. Impact: This headline foretold the rise of the 'Zoom Homebuyer,' leading to a new trend of people buying homes they’d never visited, all while their real estate agents were secretly wishing they could just sell them a virtual castle in the sky instead.. Fact: Did you know that millennials are now more likely to buy a home than ever before, mostly because they realized they can’t afford rent and might as well invest in a place to cry at their lack of savings?.
- Headline: The Coder and the Dictator. Impact: His story highlighted how digital currencies became the ultimate weapon against oppressive regimes, inspiring a generation of coders to believe they could single-handedly overthrow governments. This led to an unusual career path: 'Crypto-Revolutionary,' which sounds way cooler than it is.. Fact: Fun fact: Building a cryptocurrency for a dictator is like giving a kid a candy factory but telling them they can't eat the candy. It's just asking for trouble!.