2015

While less publicized than space probes, 2015 saw a revolution in biology with the rapid refinement of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology. Chinese scientists made headlines (and sparked international ethical debates) when they reported using CRISPR to edit human embryos – non-viable embryos, but embryos nonetheless. The work, published in April, raised profound questions about designer babies and the future of the human germline. Meanwhile, researchers in the U.S. and Europe used CRISPR to create genetically modified mosquitoes that could help stop the spread of malaria, and to grow human organs in pigs. 2015 was the year gene editing moved from science fiction to a real, present, and ethically fraught possibility.

was the year the cable bundle began to rot. HBO launched its standalone streaming service, HBO Now, specifically so cord-cutters could watch the Game of Thrones season 5 premiere (which famously featured the death of Jon Snow, shocking the internet).

In December 2015, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) culminated in the historic Paris Agreement. For the first time, 195 nations collectively committed to reducing carbon emissions. The primary mandate was to limit global temperature rises to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, shaping climate policy for the next several decades. The European Migrant Crisis While less publicized than space probes, 2015 saw

: The United Nations formally adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This framework replaced the older Millennium Development Goals, establishing an aggressive target timeline to fight poverty and inequality by 2030. Geopolitical and Humanitarian Crises

What do you remember most about 2015? Was it the blue/black dress, the release of The Witcher 3, or the first time you heard "Uptown Funk"? Meanwhile, researchers in the U

In February, Drake surprised the world with If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late . It was technically a mixtape, but it functioned as a platinum album. It signaled that the rules of music distribution were dead. You didn't need a label rollout; you needed a vibe.

Other defining tracks of included:

published its legendary deep dive into the AI Revolution, predicting the "intelligence explosion" we are living through now. A Milestone for Rights