Vol. 2010s · No. 2012 · PRICE 25¢
The 2012 Times
AI-Generated Historical Illustration
July 2012 | South Korea | K-Pop
Apocalypses, Viral Hits, and Stratospheric Leaps
In 2012, digital culture exploded with record-shattering viral phenomena, while humanity pushed physical boundaries from subatomic realms to Mars. Amid anxieties over Mayan end-times prophecies, the year instead delivered unforgettable Olympic feats, cinematic milestones, and historic scientific leaps.
Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars
NASA successfully landed the car-sized Curiosity rover inside Gale Crater after a nerve-wracking seven minutes of terror entry sequence.
Discovery of the Higgs Boson
Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider confirmed the detection of the elusive God particle, completing a crucial piece of the Standard Model.
Also this year
Red Bull Stratos Space Jump
October 2012 | Felix Baumgartner
Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner captivated millions live as he jumped from a capsule in the stratosphere, breaking the sound barrier in freefall.
London 2012 Summer Olympics
July–August 2012 | London, UK
The London Games dazzled audiences worldwide as Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever and Usain Bolt defended his sprinting titles.
Mayan Calendar End of the World Hype
December 2012 | Global | Pop Culture
Widespread media frenzy and apocalyptic memes peaked on December 21, 2012, when the Mayan Long Count calendar cycle concluded without incident.
Release of 'The Avengers'
May 2012 | Marvel Studios | Cinema
Marvel's ambitious crossover blockbuster united iconic superheroes on screen, shattering box office records and establishing the modern cinematic universe era.
Superstorm Sandy Hits the East Coast
October 2012 | United States
A massive hurricane combined with a winter cold front to cause widespread flooding and devastation across coastal New Jersey and New York City.