An overview of the upcoming year.
As the new year begins, it is difficult to imagine exactly what it will bring. New trends may emerge, new people will take positions of power and new scientific phenomena may be discovered. Whatever the case, there are several exciting events and releases that are occurring in 2020.
2020 Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Summer Olympics is a highly anticipated event, seeing as it brings the whole world together. The games take place on Friday, July 24 through Sunday, Aug. 9 in Tokyo, Japan. With over 200 nations and 11,000 athletes participating, the Olympics can easily be described as one of the most important events to occur in 2020. In contrast to previous games, the Olympic committee has decided to add several sports, including softball, skateboarding and surfing.
The Election
As the year progresses, elections for the new president of the United States draw near. On Nov. 3, candidates on both sides of the party lines will go head to head to determine the new president and vice president of the U.S. Currently, there are 12 Democratic Party candidates including Joseph R. Biden Jr., Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard. There are only three Republican Party candidates running for president: Donald Trump, Joe Walsh and William F. Weld. The newly elected president will be inaugurated on Jan. 30, 2021.
2020 Mars Mission
In Aug. of 2020, humans will be one step closer to stepping foot on Mars. NASA intends to send a rover to collect samples from the surface of the planet, test the air to see if it can be inhabited and examine if there is intelligent life that exists on Mars. This mission is part of NASA’s plan of robotic exploration and will further what is currently known about the planet.
New Movies
Among all the amazing events that are occurring in 2020, there are several movies being released that have many at the edge of their seats. “Sonic the Hedgehog” has been consistently controversial regarding it’s animation. Upon its preliminary release, fans complained about Sonic’s appearance. After reworking the animation, fans regained excitement about the action/sci-fi movie, which is set to be released in February. Another movie release that many are excited about is the live-action version of Disney’s classic “Mulan.” Directed by Niki Caro, it is expected to be released on March 27, 2020.
New Music
Many artists have released new music for consumers to listen to. Indie artist Tame Impala is releasing an album titled, “The Slow Rush.” Tame Impala has already dropped three singles from the album: “It Might Be Time,” “Borderline” and “Posthumous Forgiveness.” This album can be found on all platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, starting Feb. 14. Justin Bieber is also planning to drop an album this year. Bieber hasn’t released an album since his record “Purpose” in 2015. Since then, he has appeared in many artists’ songs as features and has released a few singles. Although the release date has yet to be announced, fans are waiting expectantly for the day they can listen to the album in its entirety.
New Streaming Services
After Disney’s highly successful streaming service Disney+ was launched, many other services wanted to capitalize on this new market. As of May 2020, HBO Max is launching with over 10,000 hours of content available to consumers. HBO Max will include the popular sitcom, “Friends,” which was recently removed from Netflix. It will also be the only streaming service to stream “The Big Bang Theory” and “South Park.” This could potentially create more interest in HBO Max from audiences. The price is currently at $15 per month, comparable to Netflix’s $8.99 per month.
Total Eclipse
Remember when the Earth went dark for several minutes during the day in 2017? Well, prepare for that to happen again. Scientists predict that there will be another total eclipse this year. It is set to occur on Dec. 14; however, the solar eclipse is not the only astronomical occurrence that will take place. The day before the eclipse, there is said to be a meteor shower and the alignment of the planets Jupiter and Saturn.
Although looking forward to these events and releases may bring joy for some, it can cause anxiety within others, due to the changes that may occur. However, it is imperative to remember to keep an open mind when approaching this upcoming year and to be ready for whatever it may bring.