2015 Computing & Technology Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2015 Computing & Technology Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 16 Jan Hunga Tonga Volcano Eruption Creates New Island: A submerged volcano near Nuku'alofa, Tonga, erupted in the South Pacific Ocean, disrupting air travel and forming a new one-kilometer island.
- 21 Jan Microsoft Announces Windows Holographic: Microsoft reveals Windows Holographic, a new technological platform set to be part of Windows 10, scheduled for release in late 2015, signaling advancements in augmented reality technology.
- 28 Jan Boeing 747-8 Selected as New Air Force One: US Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James has selected the Boeing 747-8 to replace the current Air Force One presidential aircraft, marking a significant upgrade in presidential transportation technology.
- 06 Mar DNA Barcoding Credit Dispute: India's Universal Primer Technology challenges the University of Guelph's claim of inventing DNA barcoding technology.
- 09 Mar Solar Impulse 2 begins round-the-world flight: On March 9, 2015, the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft embarked on its historic journey to circumnavigate the globe using only solar power. Piloted by André Borschberg, the first leg of the flight was from Abu Dhabi, UAE, to Muscat, Oman, covering approximately 441 kilometers in 13 hours and 1 minute. source: pv-magazine.com
- 12 Mar CERN's Large Hadron Collider undergoes upgrades: On March 12, 2015, CERN announced that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was preparing for its second three-year run after a two-year technical stop. The LHC was upgraded to operate at almost double the energy of its first run, aiming to open new horizons for physics and future discoveries. source: home.cern.ch
- 20 Mar FDA Approves Genetically Modified Crops: The United States Food and Drug Administration approved genetically modified apples and potatoes, signaling a significant development in agricultural biotechnology.
- 26 Mar Cyber Attack on GitHub: Following a previous DOS attack against GreatFire on March 17, a large-scale distributed denial of service attack was launched by China targeting GitHub's GreatFire content, representing a significant cyber conflict.
- 31 Mar Research Links Parental Income to Brain Development: Columbia University Medical School published research in Nature Neuroscience revealing a correlation between parents' income levels and the complexity of their children's brain structures, highlighting potential socioeconomic impacts on neurological development.
- 05 Apr Large Hadron Collider reactivated at CERN: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN was reactivated after a two-year hiatus for upgrades and maintenance. This marked the beginning of a new phase of experiments aimed at exploring fundamental questions in particle physics. source: bbc.com
- 10 Apr Cyberattack on French TV network: On April 10, 2015, the French television network TV5Monde was the target of a cyberattack that disrupted its broadcasts and online presence. The attack was attributed to a group claiming allegiance to the Islamic State. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 16 Apr WikiLeaks releases Sony Pictures hack documents: On April 16, 2015, WikiLeaks published a collection of documents from the 2014 Sony Pictures hack, revealing confidential emails and internal communications. The release sparked discussions about cybersecurity and corporate privacy. source: theguardian.com
- 17 Apr China's runway construction in Spratly Islands: On April 17, 2015, reports emerged that China had completed a 3,000-meter runway on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. This development raised concerns among neighboring countries and the international community over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. source: reuters.com
- 20 Apr Strong Earthquake off Taiwan's East Coast: A strong earthquake struck off Taiwan's east coast on April 20, 2015. The tremor was felt in several regions, but no significant damage or casualties were reported. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 28 May Google-Oracle Java API copyright dispute: On May 28, 2015, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a significant case regarding the copyright dispute between Google and Oracle over Java APIs. This case had implications for software development and copyright law, particularly concerning the use of APIs in programming. The outcome could affect the tech industry broadly. source: reuters.com
- 12 Jun Japan approves long-term Fukushima cleanup plan: On June 12, 2015, Japan's government approved a long-term plan for the cleanup of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, aiming to decommission the facility over the next 30 to 40 years. source: japantimes.co.jp
- 15 Jul Apple and IBM Collaborate on Business Apps: Apple and IBM announced a strategic partnership to develop business applications, with Apple gaining greater access to the business market and IBM benefiting from enhanced cloud computing software integration.
- 03 Aug Nokia Maps Acquisition by German Automakers: Nokia sold its mapping technology to a consortium of German luxury car manufacturers (BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz) for 2.8 billion Euros, marking a significant technology transfer in the automotive industry.
- 05 Aug MH370 Debris Scientific Analysis: Under judicial supervision, experts at the Balma aeronautical testing facility in Toulouse, France, began detailed examination of the MH370 debris, analyzing metal composition, damage patterns, and marine growth (barnacles) to gather forensic insights.
- 22 Aug Panda Birth at National Zoo: Mei Xiang, a giant female panda at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., gave birth to twin cubs. The father's identity remained unknown, adding an element of mystery to this rare breeding event.
- 21 Sep Apple's Electric Vehicle Plans: Apple Inc. announced plans to accelerate development of an electric vehicle, targeting a 2019 release and signaling the company's ambitions in the automotive technology sector.
- 07 Oct Nobel Prize in Chemistry Awarded for DNA Repair Research: Aziz Sancar, Paul L. Modrich, and Tomas Lindahl were awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work in understanding DNA repair mechanisms.
- 06 Nov Carnegie Mellon's 3D Printing Innovations: Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University demonstrated remarkable 3D printing capabilities, creating hair-like strands using an FDM printer and developing groundbreaking biomedical applications like human heart valves and embryonic-like heart structures using advanced biomaterials.
- 26 Nov Raspberry Pi Launches $5 Computer: UK nonprofit Raspberry Pi released its ultra-affordable $5 Zero computer, which sold out within a day, marking a significant milestone in accessible computing technology.
- 28 Nov Japan's Whaling Research Resumption: Japan announced its intention to resume hunting minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean for 'scientific research' by March 2016, despite a 2014 International Court of Justice ruling against such practices.
- 12 Dec United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21): The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) concluded in Paris, where nations agreed on a global accord to combat climate change, aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. source: unfccc.int
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