With all the bad news circulating, especially in the last week of 2016, everyone is claiming that 2016 has been the worst year thus far. Therefore, I feel like it’s my civic duty to shed some light on the good things that happened in 2016. Plus, I don’t think we ruined EVERYTHING this year. After all, Kylie Jenner did say that 2016 would be “the year of just realizing stuff.”
1. The hole in the ozone layer has finally started to heal.
It looks like all that work we did to eliminate ozone-depleting chemicals is finally starting to pay off.
2. We’ve made a major breakthrough in ebola and HIV research.
In 2016, the first patient being treated in a recent HIV study showed no sign of HIV after initial treatment. And more recently, an experimental vaccine against the ebola virus was found to be 100% effective.
3. Netflix added offline downloads.
Yes, you can now watch some shows offline. Thanks, Netflix. My limited data plan really appreciates you right now.
4. Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins an Oscar for best actor.
5. The Juno spacecraft finally reached Jupiter.
After a five-year, 1.7-billion-mile journey, NASA’s Juno spacecraft entered Jupiter’s orbit on July 4. If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the photos it’s already sent back.
6. We’re one step closer to eliminating ALS.
Remember that ice-bucket challenge that everyone called “slacktivism”? Well, it finally paid off by raising enough money to fund research for the ALS Association, which led to the discovery of a gene that is allegedly among the most common contributors to the disease.
7. A plane circumnavigated the entire world without fuel.
This solar-powered plane embarked on its round-the-world journey back in March 2015, and was finally completed Abu Dhabi in July . That's 40,000km without a single drop of fuel.
8. VR is real.
It’s real and it’s not going away. That’s all I have to say.
9. Pokemon Go was a thing for a while.
Okay, I know it’s not very popular anymore, but I had fun while it lasted.10. Stranger Things aired on July 15.
Sorry, I had to throw that in there.
11. The first commercial flight between Cuba and the US took off for the first time in 50 years on August 31.
12. The Cubs finally won the World Series on November 2.
Some may say it was rigged, but let’s face it: this was a miracle, and there were no angels in the outfield this time.13. Finding Dory happened.
After 13 years, Pixar finally released a sequel to Finding Nemo and raked in over $1 billion at the box office. Once again, I just had to.14. Gucci Mane was released early from prison in May.
#brrr
15. Frank Ocean finally dropped some new music.
After several fake release-dates, he didn’t just drop one album, but TWO. Blonde and Endless. Two works of art. The whole internet was frustrated and confused for weeks, but he finally did it. Thanks Frank.16. Hillary Clinton became the first woman to gain major-party endorsement for POTUS.
Although she didn’t win the presidency, she deserves an honorable mention. After all, women have been trying to snag a shot at the presidency since the 1800s, but no woman has ever come this far. This was definitely a victory for girls across the nation.17. Endangered animal populations are growing.
These species include pandas and tigers and manatees, oh my!
18. Drake dropped Views. Beyonce dropped Lemonade.
They also collaborated on a song together. I would also like to mention Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Half-Time Show. Oh, and Coldplay. But mostly Beyoncé. Thanks Bey.
19. Katy Perry and Meryl Streep both dressed up as this year’s presidential candidates.
See, 2016 wasn't that bad after all!