What to Expect in 2023: A Year of Milestones and Challenges
2023 is a common year that starts on a Sunday, according to the Gregorian calendar. It is the 23rd year of the 21st century and the 4th year of the 2020s decade. But what makes this year special? What are some of the events and trends that will shape the world in 2023? Here are some of the highlights:
- The first total solar eclipse in North America since 2017. On April 20, 2023, a total solar eclipse will sweep across Mexico, the United States and Canada, creating a spectacular sight for millions of people. The path of totality will cross Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will also be visible as a partial eclipse in other parts of North America and Central America.
- The FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The 23rd edition of the most popular sporting event in the world will take place from November 10 to December 10, 2023. For the first time, the tournament will be co-hosted by two countries from different confederations: Australia from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and New Zealand from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The tournament will feature 32 teams competing for the coveted trophy.
- The launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. In 2023, NASA plans to launch a spacecraft that will explore Europa, one of Jupiter’s icy moons. Europa is considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for signs of life, as it has a global ocean beneath its frozen surface. The Europa Clipper mission will perform multiple flybys of Europa, studying its geology, chemistry, magnetism and potential habitability.
- The centenary of the Turkish Republic. On October 29, 2023, Turkey will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding as a republic. The date marks the proclamation of the republic by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the first president of Turkey. The centenary is expected to be a major national event, with various cultural, artistic and political activities planned throughout the year.
- The end of Windows 8.1 support. On January 10, 2023, Microsoft will end its extended support for Windows 8.1, the last version of Windows based on the Metro design language. This means that Windows 8.1 users will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes or technical assistance from Microsoft. Users who want to keep their devices secure and up-to-date will have to upgrade to Windows 10 or switch to another operating system.
These are just some of the events and developments that will make 2023 an interesting and exciting year. Of course, there may also be surprises and challenges that we cannot predict at this point. But whatever happens, we can be sure that 2023 will be a year to remember.
Another event that will make 2023 a remarkable year is the 50th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords. On January 27, 1973, the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the Viet Cong signed a peace agreement that ended the direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. The agreement also called for a ceasefire, the release of prisoners of war and the withdrawal of foreign troops from Vietnam. The anniversary will be an opportunity to reflect on the legacy and lessons of one of the longest and most controversial wars in modern history.
2023 will also be a year of major elections in several countries around the world. Some of the notable ones include: the presidential election in France, where incumbent Emmanuel Macron will seek a second term; the general election in Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel will step down after 16 years in power; the federal election in Canada, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will face his rivals; and the general election in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will try to secure another mandate. These elections will have significant implications for the domestic and international politics of these countries and their regions.
Finally, 2023 will be a year of scientific and technological breakthroughs that will advance our knowledge and capabilities in various fields. Some of the expected ones include: the completion of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world’s largest radio telescope that will explore the origins and evolution of the universe; the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope that will observe distant galaxies and exoplanets; the first human mission to Mars by SpaceX, the private space company founded by Elon Musk; and the development of quantum computers that will surpass the performance of classical computers.