On Jan. 4, the Burj Khalifa, the new tallest building in the world, opened in downtown Dubai. (credit: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images)
Earthquake Devastates Haiti
On Jan. 12, a massive 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, destroying the capitol city of Port-au-Prince and killing 300,000 people. (credit: Frederic Dupoux/Getty Images)
John and Elizabeth Edwards Separate
On Jan. 21, former vice-presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, filed for separation. The former North Carolina senator had fathered a child through an extramarital affair with campaign worker Rielle Hunter. (credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
The iPad Debuts
On Jan. 27, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad, Apple's first tablet device. (credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Toyota Troubles
After several reports of uncontrolled acceleration in some of their most popular models, Toyota announced a recall on Jan. 28. They blamed the problem on the design of their pedals. (credit: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images)
IRS Building In Austin Attacked
On Feb. 18, a suicidal man crashed his small plane into the IRS building in Austin, Texas. (credit: Ben Sklar/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods Apologizes
On Feb. 19, Tiger Woods offered an apology for disappointing his fans and wife after numerous women went public claiming they had affairs with the superstar. (credit: Lori Moffett-Pool/Getty Images)
Killer Whale Kills SeaWorld Trainer
(credit: Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
8.8-Magnitude Quake Hits Chile
On Feb. 27, a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake hit Chile, killing 497 people. (credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Body Scanners Land At O'Hare
On Mar. 15, full body scanners began being used at Chicago's O'Hare airport. The scanners set off a debate about privacy and security. (credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Obama Signs Health Care Reform Bill
On Mar. 23, President Barack Obama signed his signature health care reform bill into law after a year-long, bitter, partisan debate. (credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
S. Korean Ship Cheonan Sinks
On Mar. 23, a South Korean military vessel after an explosion. Evidence pointed to a North Korean attack on the vessel. (credit: Hong Jin-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images)
Big Bang Simulated
On Mar. 30, scientists with CERN used the large hadron collider to simulate a miniature Big Bang in order to learn more about the origins of the universe. (credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)
2010 Census Begins
(credit: Chip Comodevilla/Getty Images)
Iceland Volcano Eruption
On Apr. 14, the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland began erupting. The plume of ash caused severe disruption in flights to and from Europe. (credit: Halldor Kobleins/AFP/Getty Images)
Deepwater Horizon Explodes
On Apr. 20, BP's Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded, causing massive environmental damage. Oil would spill into the gulf for months. (credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Arizona's Controversial Immigration Law
On Apr. 23, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signd a controversial bill empowering law enforcement to stop people suspected of being illegal aliens. (credit: John Moore/Getty Images)
Times Square Bombing Attempt
On May 1, radicalized American citizen Faisal Shahzad attempted to blow up a car bomb in New York City's Times Square. (credit: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
Israeli Flotilla Raided
On May 31, Israeli commandos stormed a flotilla attempting to break a blockade of Gaza. 9 people were killed in the clash. (credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images)
Joran van der Sloot Arrested
On June 3, Joran van der Sloot was arrested in Peru, accused of killing Stephany Flores Ramírez. Van der Sloot was long suspected of killing Natalee Holloway. (credit: Marcel Antonisse/AFP/Getty Images)
Gen. McChrystal Resigns
On June 23, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, resigned after his disparaging remarks about Vice President Biden and other administration officials appeared in Rolling Stone magazine. (credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Russian Spy Ring Broken Up
On June 27, Anna Chapman was one of 11 people in the U.S. and Cyprus arrested and accused of being a 'sleeper agent' for Russia. The spies were later swapped with Russia. (credit: Dmitry Kostyukov/AFP/Getty Images)
Barefoot Bandit' Busted
On July 11, Colton Harris-Moore, the so-called 'Barefoot Bandit,' was arrested after crashing a stolen private plane in the Bahamas. Harris-Moore had become an internet sensation after his alleged theft spree. (credit: AP)
Obama Signs Financial Reform Bill
On July 21, President Barack Obama signed a law intended to prevent another massive meltdown of the financial system. (credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Wikileaks Discloses Afghanistan Cables
On July 25, the website Wikileaks released 90,000 U.S. diplomatic reports about Afghanistan, alleging massive corruption. (credit: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea Clinton Marries
On July 31, Chelsea Clinton married Marc Mezvinsky. (credit: Barbara Kinney via Getty Images)
Prop 8 Struck Down
(credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Elena Kagan Sworn In
On Aug. 7, Elena Kagan was sworn in as the 112th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. She's the court's 4th female justice. (credit: J. Scott Applewhite-Pool/Getty Images)
Ted Stevens Killed
On Aug. 9, former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was killed in a small plane crash. (credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Flight Attendant's Dramatic Exit
On Aug. 9, JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater created a sensation after an incident with a passenger prompted him to quit on the spot. He grabbed some beer and left the plane via the emergency exit slide. (credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Obama Sounds Off On 'Ground Zero' Mosque
Will protests against the mosque in Temecula rival those seen in New York City near Ground Zero? (credit: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)
Hundreds Of Millions Of Eggs Recalled
One of the nation's largest egg distributor, Wright County Egg in Iowa, announced on Aug. 13, 2010, a recall of 380 million eggs linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. (credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alleged 'Craigslist Killer' Commits Suicide
Accused "Craigslist killer" Philip Markoff killed himself on Aug. 15, 2010, in jail. Officials discovered his body with a plastic bag tied over his head. He was awaiting trial in the murder case of Julissa Brisman, a 25-year-old New Yorker. (credit: Mark Garfinkel-Pool/Getty Images)
Rod Blagojevich Cleared Of 23 Charges
Disgraced former Chicago Gov. Rod Blagojevich was cleared by a jury on Aug. 17, 2010, of 23 felony counts and convicted of a single charge of lying to FBI agents about his activities in campaign funding. (credit: John Gress/Getty Images)
Bedbugs Make Way Across The Nation
Pest control company Terminix revealed on Aug. 25, 2010, a list of the 15 most bedbug-infested cities in the United States. Topping the list were New York City, Philadelphia, and Detroit. (credit: Brian Kersey/Getty Images)
Glenn Beck Hosts Rally To 'Restore Honor'
Conservative Fox News commentator Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin hosted on Aug. 28, 2010, a "Restoring Honor" rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)
Obama Declares End To Combat Missions In Iraq
(credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)
Florida Pastor Calls Of Quran-Burning
The Rev. Terry Jones announced on Sept. 9, 2010, that he no longer plans to burn copies of the Quran on the 9th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The Florida pastor said he changed mind after meeting with a New York imam. (credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Gas Explosion Devastates California City
At least four people were killed and dozens more hospitalized when a gas line exploded on Sept. 9, 2010, in San Bruno, Calif. The explosion resulted in a massive fire in a residential community near San Francisco's International Airport. (credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Iran Releases American Sarah Shourd
Iran released American hiker Sarah Shourd on Sept. 14, 2010, after keeping her detained in prison for 14 months. Her fiance Shane Bauer and friend Josh Fattal remain imprisoned in Iran. (credit: Mohammed Mahjoub/AFP/Getty Images)
Repeal Of Military Ban On Gays Blocked
The effort to lift the military's ban on gays serving openly in failed when the Senate voted down on Sept. 21, 2010, a defense bill that includes the conditional repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. (credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Facebook Founder Donates $100M To Schools
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Sept. 22, 2010, on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" his donation of $100 million to the Newark public school system. (credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Students Kills Self After Sex Encounter Broadcast
Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi committed suicide on Sept. 22, 2010, after his dorm roommate secretly used a webcam to stream Clementi's homosexual encounter on the Internet. Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge. (credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)
Rahm Emanuel Leaves White House Post
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Israel Emanuel resigned on Oct. 1, 2010, from his post, which he held since Jan. 20, 2009. Emanuel leaves to pursue a campaign run for mayor of Chicago. (credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
Suspect Convicted In Petit Family Murders
Steven Hayes, one of two men accused in a deadly home invasions and the brutalization and murders of a woman and her daughters, was found guilty Oct. 5, 2010, of 16 of the 17 counts he faced in relation to the case. (credit: AP)
Christine O'Donnell Releases "I'm Not A Witch" Ad
In her first campaign add of the primary season, Tea Party-propelled candidate Christine O'Donnell appeared Oct. 6, 2010, in a video in which she says, "I'm not a witch." It was meant to fight rumors around her admission of dabbling in witchcraft. (credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)
Chilean Miners Freed After Months Underground
All 33 miners trapped thousands of miles beneath the earth in Chile were finally rescued on Oct. 13, 2010, after more than two months underground. (credit: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
Package Bombs Found On U.S.-Bound Flights
Two package bombs headed for the United States were intercepted by authorities in Britain and Dubai that were meant to explode in-flight and to bring down the planes carrying them. The flights originated in Yemen. (credit: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images)
Stewart, Colbert Host "Rally To Restore Sanity/Fear"
Comedy Central duo, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, hosted the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" on Oct. 30, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Around 215,000 people attended the free rally. (credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)
Republicans Take Back Control Of Congress
Midterm election results indicated on Nov. 2, 2010, that Republicans would win enough seats in the House of Representatives to take control of the chamber. John Boehner, R-Ohio, will be the Speaker of the House. (credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
George W. Bush Releases 'Decision Points' Memoir
George W. Bush released his memoirs on Nov. 9, 2010, which covers his life before the presidency, his battle with alcoholism, the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and more. He was paid $7m for the first 1.5m copies. (credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Disabled Cruise Ship Pulled Into San Diego Port
Powerless cruiseship Carnival Splendor was pulled into the Uinfied Port of San Diego in California on Nov. 11, 2010 after a fire left the vessel without electricity. The ship had been drifting about 200 miles of the Mexican coast before returning to land hours later. (credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Four Loko Drops Caffeine From Energy Drink
The manufacturers of a popular caffeinated alcohol drink announced on Nov. 16, 2010, that they will remove the caffeine from its controversial products -- just before the FDA reveals its intention to ban the Four Loko beverage. (credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
North Korean Artillery Fire Kills Soldiers
North Korea fired shells Nov. 23, 2010, at the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, near a disputed maritime border. South Korean soldiers were killed and civilians injured during the attack, which occurred during the South's military exercises. (credit: Getty Images)
Tom DeLay Convicted Of Money Laundering
Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was convicted Nov. 24, 2010, on charges he illegally gave corporate money to Texas political candidates in 2002. He was potentially facing decades in prison. (credit: Ben Sklar /Getty Images)
Obama Gets Stitches For Busted Lip
President Obama received 12 stitches in his lip on Nov. 26, 2010, after accidentally getting elbowed in the face during a basketball game with family and friends. (credit: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images)
President Obama, GOP Hold 'Slurpee Summit'
This post-primary election meeting between President Obama and GOP leaders was held Dec. 2, 2010, and dubbed the "Slurpee summit" in relation to Obama's comments about the GOP sitting on the sidelines "sipping Slurpees" during the economic crisis. (credit: Pete Souza/The White House Via Getty Images)
House Censures Rep. Charles Rangel
New York Democrat, Rep. Charles Rangel was official censured on Dec. 2, 2010, by the House of Representatives after an investigation revealed a series of ethics violations. (credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Obama Announces Tax Deal
President Obama unveiled a compromise with Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts across the board for all Americans, including the wealthiest. Former President Bill Clinton urged reluctant Democrats to support Obama's plan. (credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Elizabeth Edwards Succumbs To Cancer
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards, lost her battle with cancer on Dec. 7, 2010. Edwards was seen as a face of resilience and grace amid her husband's affair with a campaign videographer. (credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Arrested In UK
WikiLeaks chief editor Julian Paul Assange was arrested Dec. 7, 2010, in the United Kingdom on sex-related charges. WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website, has released thousands of unclassified, confidential, and secret cables from United States diplomats. (credit: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)
