Top 10 Things To Happen For The First Time In 2023

We did what now? 

2023 was an average year for everyone. On one side, we saw numerous tragedies and humanitarian crises unfold, like the Israel-Hamas war and devastating floods and tsunamis, but on the other side, there were also several groundbreaking achievements and milestones.

From the successful launch of Chandrayaan 3, India's third lunar mission, to advancements in artificial intelligence and renewable energy, 2023 marked a significant turning point in various fields. 

As the year draws to a close, we take a look at the top 10 things that happened for the first time in 2023. 

Also Read | Top 10 Google's Most Searched Movies and Shows in India (2023)

1. India lands on the Moon

India made significant progress in space exploration this year. After the failure of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its successor, Chandrayaan-3, and made history. On August 23, 2023, India became the fourth nation to land on the lunar surface and the first to do so on the South Pole of the Moon. The USA, the Soviet Union, and China are the other three countries to have landed on the surface of the Moon. 

2. London celebrates Ramadan 

For the first time in history, a Muslim was elected as the Mayor of London. Mayor Sadiq Khan lit up the West End of London with 30,000 lights in the holy month of Ramadan. There were festive decorations to demonstrate the different phases of the moon on Coventry Street. It was the first major celebration of Ramadan in Europe. 

3. Yuan takes over Dollar

In March, the Chinese currency Yuan became the most used currency for cross-border payments in the country, surpassing the US dollar for the first time. Cross-border payments refer to the financial transactions that occur between individuals, businesses, or governments located in different countries. 

4. Scientists take samples from the inaccessible Earth’s mantle

The mantle, the second layer that lies underneath the Earth’s crust, has always been a mystery for scientists. After many unsuccessful attempts, scientists in 2023 finally retrieved a rock sample from the Earth’s mantle for research. Earlier this year, tectonic plate activity pushed the ocean floor up, from where scientists deployed a drilling vessel to extract a rock sample from the mantle. 

5. A paralysed man starts walking again

In somewhat of a miraculous finding, a paralysed man started walking again using his mind. Almost ten years after his injury, the man was able to walk because of an artificial intelligence implant in his brain and spine. The implants translated electrical signals in his brain and sent them over to his muscles, leading him to walk on his two feet again.

6. Virgin Galactic flies tourists to space 

The American space tourism company Virgin Galactic flew its passengers to space for the first time. The VSS Unity, a spacecraft propelled by rockets, carried three tourists—a mother, her daughter, and an Olympic champion—to space from New Mexico. However, it is worth mentioning that this is not the first space tourism flight. Dennis Vitto, in 2001, became the first tourist to pay money to fly to space. 

7. Scientists find the oldest black hole 

Scientists have discovered the oldest black hole in existence to date. The black hole is believed to be 13.2 billion years old and formed around 470 million years after the Big Bang, the beginning of the universe. It is also 10 times bigger than the one in the Milky Way. The discovery was made using the James Webb Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory of NASA. 

8. Bird Flu in Antarctica

In October 2023, a deadly bird flu virus, HPAI H5N1, reached the ice-cold region of Antarctica for the first time, sparking fear for the indigenous wildlife of the continent. 

9. Japanese researchers find microplastics in clouds

Scientists from Japan have found microplastics in the clouds, raising questions about their potential implications for Earth’s climate. The study, which was published in Environmental Chemistry Letters, revealed the presence of microplastics in clouds above Mount Fuji. Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, less than 5 mm in length, that are now being found in food, water, air, and even clouds. 

10. Earth records its hottest year

Global warming has led to a rise in temperatures globally, and for the first time, the planet recorded its highest temperature. Globally, the Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius and is nearing 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is quite alarming. 

Related: Top 10 Google's Most Searched People in India (2023)

You May Find This Interesting: What is ‘Rizz’, Oxford University’s Word of the Year 2023?