The year 2020 is finally upon us. New year, new possibilities, the year to go out and experience many more exciting things. So much is happening this year and trying to keep up with it all can be a challenge. Whether it is wanting to go see a new movie or finding something to stay interested and engaged, 2020 is the perfect year for new discoveries and new beginnings.
Traveling this summer? Maybe consider going to Tokyo, Japan, the Summer 2020 Olympic Games location. The games are from July 24 to Aug. 9 and are an exciting time for all, sports fans and non-sports fans alike.
“I like gymnastics,” Summer Snook ‘22 said, “I did it for a lot of my life and I just think it’s really fun to watch.”
“I did it for a lot of my life and I just think it’s really fun to watch.”
Summer Snook ‘22
Events range from archery to rugby, with something fun to watch for everyone. The torch bearers this year are the members of the Japanese women’s national football team, who won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, being the only Japanese team to ever be FIFA World Champions.
Traveling to Tokyo may not be the only stop on fun summer vacations, at least not if traveling to Mars is part of the plan. The new NASA rover is scheduled to launch and join the already existing rover Curiosity on the Red Planet. This new rover is scheduled to leave somewhere between July 17 and Aug. 5 and is planning to arrive in February of 2021. The rover will be on Mars for a planned mission of 687 days, which equals 1 Mars year.
With this mission, scientists and individuals are hoping to answer the question that has been long unanswered. Was there ever life on Mars?
“I think they will,” Snook said when asked about finding life on Mars, “It would be pretty cool if they did.”
Later in 2020, U.S. citizens will vote for the next president of the United States, who will take office for at least the next four years. Voting will take place on Nov. 3. There are many different candidates who are still in the running for the position, 11 Democrats and 3 Republicans currently. With many months left until the election there is much room for change in the race and nothing is certain until the ballots have been counted.
Another thing happening this year that will become more and more common and will not only help stop worry, but also help to stop danger occurring in everyday life is peanut allergy treatment. Peanut allergies have increased greatly over the years, with it quickly becoming the second most common allergy affecting 1 in every 200 people. This allergy, just like any other, causes many inconveniences and is cause for much worry from family and friends. The possibility of an allergic reaction happening simply because of one single peanut is enough to make anyone on edge.
Beginning in 2018, scientists have researched and worked hard to create a solution to this ever increasing peanut epidemic. Starting treatment at any age, patients can start taking a daily pill, which would contain miniscule amounts of the peanut protein. Once the patient starts building up a tolerance, the dosage is increased. This is not by any means a cure or solution but as science has been advancing, patients have been able to build up a tolerance of one peanut. This will become more common this year which means in case of an accident where the person affected eats a peanut, they will have time to realize and avoid eating any more peanuts.
Along with making life more stress free, this enables everyone to have fun and not worry about what they are eating and if it may harm them.
For all of the movie buffs, 2020 is a year full of new exciting movies, enough to keep anyone entertained for the whole year.
A Quiet Place Part 2 comes out Mar. 20 starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Noah Jupe, among others. This sequel will give goosebumps with the Abbott family having to venture into the outside world, where many more horrors lie. Mulan comes out Mar. 27. This live action retell, starring Liu Yifei as Mulan, captures the life of young Fa Mulan as she, once again, tries to save her family, risking everything to protect them.
Another long awaited movie comes out on May 1. Black Widow, starring Scarlett Johanson, finally gets its own screen as the Black Widow goes back to where her whole journey started, reuniting with her family for one crazy adventure. Following this theme of strong women, Wonder Woman 1984 is coming out this year, on June 5. Played by Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman goes back in time where she collides with the Soviet Union during the Cold War and meets her match, a villain named Cheetah.
Coming out June 25, Top Gun Maverick is another movie, long awaited by Top Gun fans. Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, is not only fighting against his classmates at the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School, he’s also fighting for the attention of their instructor, Charlotte Blackwood.
2020 is a year to remember with so much happening: Tokyo Summer Olympics, the Presidential Election and so much more. Everyday there is something new and exciting to expect, even though the year has already started, it is never too late to have fun. Go watch that movie or sit on the couch for days watching the Olympics. 2020 will be a great year.
