10 Cool Facts & Events Happening in 2015
- January 4, 2015
- By Cody Battershill
10 Cool Facts & Events About Year 2015 
A World First
While artificial hearts have been around for more than three decades, the very first “self-regulating” one will be available to the public in 2015.
Invented by a French Professor named Alain Carpentier – in 2013 – the mechanism is composed of various biomaterials and several electronic sensors that can precisely imitate the functions of a real heart.
Microporous materials used prevent blood clots while micro sensors can monitor flow rate and adjust blood pressure in real time.
Another World First
A Swiss-made solar aircraft called Solar Impulse will be the very first of its kind to completely circumnavigate the Earth.
The craft has the same wingspan of a Boeing 747 but weighs considerably less at only 2,300 kg (or 5,070 lb), has a maximum altitude of 12,000 metres (or 39,000 ft.) and maximum speed of 143 km/h (or 88 mph). During the day, it uses 17,000 solar cells to charge lithium batteries which it uses to fly during night.
The lengthy mission will take place over a period of five months, during which the plane will use no fuel whatsoever to cover a distance of approximately 35,000 kilometres (or 22,000 miles).
Eco-City Sets the Bar
Masdar City, the very first fully-sustainable, zero-waste, zero-carbon footprint city on Earth that relies wholly on renewable and solar energies, will have its first phase of development completed in 2015.
With a price tag of $22 billion, the massive eco-project is located just outside of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which it is connected to via existing roadways and newly built railroads.
Around 7,000 people will initially live in Masdar City while 15,000 commuters will also have opportunity to stay there for given periods of time.
Longest Reigning Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest reigning monarch in the history of Britain on September 10th, 2015, surpassing her great, great grandmother Queen Victoria.
Queen Elizabeth took up her crown more than 60 years ago – on February 6th, 1952.
Eurasian Economic Union
On January 1st, 2015, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will officially come into effect between the nations of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The EEU will create an economic market consisting of 183 million people across the participating countries with a total gross domestic product (GDP) worth approximately 4 trillion U.S. dollars a year.
Space Probes
Space buffs will be excited to know that NASA’s Dawn spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at Ceres sometime in April of 2015.
Located in the asteroid belt between the planets of Mars and Jupiter, navigating to the dwarf planet which was first discovered in 1801 will be a tricky task.
More Space Probes
Another NASA spacecraft called New Horizons is expected to pass Pluto, one of our solar system’s most remote planets, sometime in July of 2015.
Once arrived, the spacecraft will proceed to explore Pluto and one of the planets moon’s named Charon for five months before venturing out towards the Keiper Belt and eventually exiting the solar system all together.
Year of Soil
The UN has also designated 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS), another observance in hope to raise awareness about how crucial soil is in our lives and to encourage and teach people about long-term sustainable development of this precious resource.
Year of Light
2015 has been designated by The United Nations (UN) as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL), an initiative aiming to raise global awareness about light science and its usefulness / importance for humanity.
IYL’s inaugural ceremonies will take place on January 19th and 20th, 2015 in Paris, France.
Total Lunar Eclipse
On April 4th, 2015, a total lunar eclipse will occur, turning the moon from its normal grey to a copper or red colour.
A total lunar eclipse makes this possible because when the moon is completely covered by the shadow of the Earth, light from the Sun passes through Earth’s atmosphere and refracts towards the moon.
Other colours of the spectrum of light are blocked and scattered by our planet’s atmosphere while red light tends to pass through with more ease, changing the colour of the moon.
The moon can be seen for an hour or two from the bordering regions of the Americas, Asia, Australia and anywhere in the Pacific Ocean.
We hope you have a wonderful and fruitful year in 2015!