1985

1985 was a pivotal year, marked by significant political shifts, cultural milestones, and technological breakthroughs. Here are some of the key events and trends:

Geopolitics & World Events

• Mikhail Gorbachevbecame the leader of the Soviet Union, introducing the concepts of Glasnost(openness) and Perestroika(restructuring), which would ultimately lead to the end of the Cold War.
• The Live Aidconcert, organized by Bob Geldof, was broadcast globally to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. It featured iconic performances by Queen, U2, and many others.
• Apartheid Protestsintensified in South Africa, with increased international pressure and sanctions.

Technology & Science

• Microsoft Windows 1.0was released, introducing a graphical user interface to the PC world (though it was not an immediate hit).
• The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)was launched in North America, revitalizing the video game industry after the 1983 crash.
• The wreck of the RMS Titanicwas discovered by a Franco-American team led by Robert Ballard.
• British scientists published the first paper identifying a hole in the ozone layerover Antarctica.

Culture & Entertainment

• Blockbuster Movies:Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
• Iconic Music:Madonna's Like a Virginalbum dominated. Other hits included "We Are the World" (USA for Africa), Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing," and Whitney Houston's debut album.
• Television:The Simpsonscharacters first appeared as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. EastEndersdebuted on the BBC.

Disasters

• Armero Tragedy (Colombia):A volcanic eruption triggered a massive mudflow that buried the town of Armero, killing over 20,000 people.

Other Notable Events

• The Coca-Cola "New Coke"formula was introduced and famously flopped, leading to the rapid return of "Coca-Cola Classic."
• The first .comdomain name (symbolics.com) was registered on March 15.
• The Heysel Stadium disasteroccurred before the European Cup final in Brussels, where 39 football (soccer) fans died due to crowd collapse and wall failure.

In essence, 1985 was a year of transition—between Cold War tension and its impending thaw, between 8-bit and the dawn of modern computing, and a peak moment for 80s pop culture. A year of contrasts: from the global unity of Live Aid to the tragedy in Armero.