Science: Space, Health, and Climate

  • Space Exploration Milestones: NASA celebrated 25 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station in November and made strides toward the Moon. The Artemis II mission crew completed final trainings for an early-2026 flight – the first crewed trip around the Moon in over 50 years . NASA also landed two new robotic missions on the Moon and welcomed more nations (59 to date) into the Artemis Accords for responsible lunar exploration . Astronomers opened the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, boasting a 3.2-billion-pixel camera – it captured millions of galaxies in its first nights and is poised to discover thousands of near-Earth asteroids and rare interstellar visitors . In fact, a newly spotted interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, swung through our solar system in December, only the third such object ever observed .
  • Medical Breakthroughs: 2025 saw game-changing advances in biotechnology. In a world-first, a baby with a fatal genetic disorder received a personalized CRISPR gene therapy, precisely editing his DNA to cure an otherwise untreatable condition . Researchers are now planning to treat more children with such tailor-made gene editors starting in 2026 . Organ transplantation also got a boost: surgeons achieved the longest-lasting pig-to-human organ transplant yet – a gene-edited pig kidney functioned in a human patient for 271 days . These experimental xenotransplants (including the first pig lung transplant) are blazing a trail to alleviate the chronic donor organ shortage . The FDA approved the first multi-patient trials of pig kidney transplants, aiming to standardize this technique . Researchers also pioneered a method to convert donor organs to a universal blood type, which could reduce rejection and expand organ availability .
  • Public Health & Disease: Global immunization efforts faced setbacks. Measles surged in North America, costing Canada its measles-elimination status in November, amid falling vaccination rates and pandemic disruptions . The U.S. withdrew from the WHO and cut vaccine program funding in 2025, raising concerns about resurgent diseases . On a positive note, the WHO adopted a new Pandemic Accord (without U.S. participation) to improve sharing of vaccines and treatments in future outbreaks. In HIV therapy, a long-acting injectable drug (lenacapavir) won global endorsements as a preventive, and experimental antibody infusions induced unprecedented months-long HIV remission in some patients . However, funding cuts to U.S. HIV/AIDS programs (PEPFAR) cast a shadow, with experts warning of millions of potential new infections if support isn’t restored .
  • Climate and Environment: Evidence of the worsening climate crisis mounted. Preliminary data show 2025 was likely the 2nd or 3rd hottest year on record, with global temperatures about +1.48 °C above pre-industrial levels . Climate extremes underscored this trend: for example, rare winter wildfires ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025, burning tens of thousands of acres and requiring the largest hazardous-waste cleanup in EPA’s history . On the energy front, there was one bright spot: thanks to booming solar and wind power, renewables provided over one-third of the world’s electricity in 2025 H1, narrowly exceeding coal’s share for the first time . Yet overall emissions are not falling fast enough – experts now concede the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 °C warming limit will be missed absent drastic action . The COP30 U.N. climate summit in Brazil ended with a mixed outcome: wealthy nations agreed to triple funding for climate adaptation in developing countries, but political pressure from oil-producing states thwarted any commitment to phase out fossil fuels . Notably, the United States was absent from formal talks, a void that many say weakened global unity on emissions cuts . Developing powers stepped up instead – China touted its clean-tech supply, and India took a stronger negotiating role – even as deforestation and indigenous rights struggles took center stage in Amazonia .

Artemis II astronauts (NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen) in training. NASA is prepping this crewed lunar flyby for early 2026 – the first mission around the Moon in over five decades . The revival of lunar exploration is a cornerstone of 2025’s “new golden age” of space innovation.

Technology: AI Dominance, Consumer Tech and Computing

  • AI’s Astonishing Leap Forward: Artificial intelligence was the headline of tech in late 2025. Breakthrough systems became dramatically more capable – it felt like we squeezed a decade of progress into one year . OpenAI launched GPT-5 in August (with improved versions 5.1 and 5.2 by year’s end), introducing “agentic AI” that can autonomously plan and execute complex tasks with minimal human guidance . These new models have built-in reasoning and tool-use abilities, enabling them to handle multi-step projects end-to-end. Adoption of generative AI skyrocketed across industries, driving real productivity gains – ChatGPT-based assistants saved some professionals almost an hour a day . By late 2025, an estimated 54.6% of firms were using generative AI, a stunning rise from essentially zero three years ago (for comparison, PCs had reached only ~20% workplace adoption after their first three years) . This AI wave contributed heavily to economic growth – over 90% of U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 came from tech investments (especially AI) . At the same time, the technology sparked serious debates about job displacement and misuse. Tech giants responded with new AI ethics guardrails and features to allow more oversight, while CEOs spoke of “AI as a collaborator” rather than a replacement .
  • AI Arms Race – Google vs OpenAI: Not to be outdone, Google DeepMind unveiled its Gemini 3 large model in November, a multimodal AI rival that immediately put OpenAI on notice . Gemini 3 excelled at handling text, images, audio, and video together, boasting a 1-million-token context window and state-of-the-art reasoning performance. These leaps by OpenAI (code-named “Sora”) and Google’s Gemini were truly astonishing – the pace of change made capabilities we considered cutting-edge in early 2025 feel routine by year’s end . AI assistants became ubiquitous in consumer and enterprise software. From writing code and contracts to generating graphics and videos, 2025’s AI could “really think, act and explore the world alongside us,” as one Google scientist put it . This pervasive AI also led Big Tech to pour unprecedented resources into the field: Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Tesla, NVIDIA, and Microsoft together spent an estimated $300 billion on AI in 2025 . The frenzy drove consolidation (numerous AI startup acquisitions) and even some mass layoffs in legacy sectors, as companies reallocated budgets from older projects to AI initiatives .
  • Hardware and Chips – NVIDIA’s Soaring Fortunes: The AI boom had dramatic effects on the semiconductor industry and stock markets. NVIDIA, the leading AI chipmaker, became the first company in history to exceed a $5 trillion market valuation in late 2025 . Fueled by insatiable demand for its GPUs in data centers, NVIDIA’s stock climbed so fast that it briefly hit the $4 trillion mark in July and $5 trillion by October . The company leveraged its dominance by investing heavily in the ecosystem – it announced a $100 billion investment in OpenAI in September, and took multi-billion stakes in software firms like Synopsys and even Nokia . On the product side, chipmakers rolled out AI-focused processors and systems at a blistering pace. NVIDIA previewed its next-gen “Rubin” GPU architecture for 2026, while competitors like AMD and Intel struggled to catch up. Globally, a chip shortage for AI accelerators made headlines as cloud providers raced to expand capacity. Beyond AI, quantum computing made headlines: Google researchers demonstrated a “quantum echoes” algorithm that proved 13,000× faster than a classical computer at predicting molecular structures – one of the first practical quantum advantages reported . Fittingly, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to pioneers of quantum information science, capping what UNESCO had dubbed the International Year of Quantum Science & Technology .
  • Consumer Tech Trends: Mainstream consumer hardware saw iterative but solid improvements. Flagship smartphones, laptops, and TVs in 2025 focused on better battery life, brighter OLED displays, and smarter cameras rather than radical redesigns . Still, tech fans “have never had it so good,” as one review noted, with refinements making everyday devices more reliable and powerful than ever . Foldable-screen phones and AR/VR gadgets continued to mature, though they remained niche. In gaming, Nintendo launched the long-awaited Switch 2 console, an evolutionary upgrade that nonetheless generated huge excitement . Demand was so intense that retailers struggled for months to keep the Switch 2 in stock . New flagship game titles (like Mario Kart World and Metroid Prime 4) helped drive what became one of Nintendo’s best years on record . Rival Sony doubled down on handheld gaming as well, enhancing its PlayStation Portal for cloud streaming . In the smart wearables market, an interesting shift toward sustainability emerged: Google’s Pixel Watch 4 debuted as the first consumer smartwatch designed for repairability, allowing battery and screen replacements to curb e-waste . This move toward longer-lasting gadgets echoes a broader lifestyle trend (see Culture section) favoring sustainability over fast gadget turnover. Looking ahead, industry analysts caution that soaring AI server demand may drive up component prices for consumer electronics in 2026 , possibly making our beloved devices more expensive in the near future.

Finance: Crypto Highs, Market Trends, and Economic Shifts

  • Crypto’s Roller Coaster – Bitcoin’s New High: Bitcoin experienced a dramatic late-2025 surge, smashing through its previous price records. It soared past the psychological $100,000 mark in early December, driven by a wave of institutional buying and hype . In fact, Bitcoin hit an all-time peak around $126,000 in October 2025 , giving it a market cap on par with the world’s largest companies. This fulfilled many bullish predictions (helped by the approval of several U.S. Bitcoin ETFs and declining interest rates). However, the rally didn’t hold entirely – by year’s end the price had pulled back to the upper-$80k range . Bitcoin still finished vastly up year-over-year, but its late-year cooling came as some investors rotated into traditional safe havens like gold . (Notably, actual gold prices climbed in Q4 2025, while Bitcoin ended about 30% below its peak .) The broader crypto market mirrored Bitcoin’s volatility: several altcoins boomed and busted in short succession, and regulators worldwide continued debating stricter rules after this tumultuous crypto bull run.
  • Stock Market and Big Tech Boom: Equity markets in 2025 were defined by the AI-driven tech boom. Major indices hit or neared record highs, fueled largely by a handful of giant tech stocks whose valuations exploded on AI optimism. As noted, NVIDIA became a $5 trillion company, and others like Apple and Microsoft also notched historic market caps (Apple hovered around $3.5 trillion). The concentration was striking – by late 2025 the top seven U.S. tech firms accounted for an outsized share of the S&P 500’s gains. This led some analysts to caution about a “tech bubble,” though others argued robust earnings justified the prices. Meanwhile, traditional sectors lagged; many firms announced layoffs or restructuring, partly to cut costs and invest in new tech capabilities . One side effect of the AI revolution: business spending on software and equipment (mostly AI-related) was responsible for an estimated 92% of U.S. GDP growth in early 2025 – highlighting how the economy’s expansion has hinged on tech investment.
  • Economic Shifts and Outlook: Globally, the economy showed resilient but slowing growth. The IMF’s latest outlook (October 2025) pegs world GDP growth at 3.2% for 2025, down slightly from 3.3% in 2024 . Advanced economies grew only around 1.6% in 2025 as the post-pandemic rebound faded and high interest rates from earlier tightening began to bite. The United States, for instance, cooled from ~2.8% growth in 2024 to a forecast ~2% in 2025 . Europe also experienced anemic growth, and the UK actually entered a mild recession late in the year. On the upside, inflation continued to retreat in most regions, easing pressure on central banks. The U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank paused further rate hikes in late 2025, and discussions have shifted to when modest rate cuts might begin in 2026 if inflation stays under control. Energy prices moderated compared to the spikes of 2022–23, helping consumer prices stabilize. Another notable trend was investor appetite for gold – gold prices hit  all-time highs (above $2,100/oz) in November 2025, partly as a hedge against elevated economic uncertainty and as an alternative to frothy crypto assets . In currency markets, the U.S. dollar remained strong, supported by capital flows into U.S. tech stocks, while China’s yuan and some emerging market currencies faced pressure amid slower growth in China. Overall, economists describe the late-2025 global economy as “in flux but not in crisis” – with dimming growth in the West, a cautious rebound in parts of Asia, and hopes that the tech-driven productivity gains of AI might finally start showing up in the broader economic data in 2026.

Culture: Arts, Photography, and Lifestyle Trends

  • Art World Reset and Highlights: After the speculative frenzy and “NFT bubble” of a few years ago, 2025 was a year of correction and renewal in the art world. The market had a turbulent start (with some galleries closing and auction sales down), but it ultimately stabilized rather than collapsed, ending more in a “reset” mode . Collectors refocused on physical art and classic artists, and prices for ultra-contemporary works cooled to more sustainable levels. A big event on the calendar was Art Basel’s debut in Paris (October 2025) – the famed art fair launched a new Paris edition, underscoring the city’s growing importance on the global art stage . Major museum shows this year ranged from retrospectives of modern icons to provocative new-media installations. Culturally, debates about politics and art continued: there was much discussion on whether the art world would turn “post-woke,” reacting against years of intense social-justice focus . Museums found themselves navigating between inclusion efforts and backlash, with no easy path forward. The year also saw the intersection of tech and art, as AI-generated art and music became more accepted – though not without legal and ethical disputes over copyright and creativity. On the awards front, British photographer Zed Nelson was crowned Photographer of the Year 2025 for his powerful series “The Anthropocene Illusion,” which documents humanity’s impact on nature . In nature photography, stunning images (like a lone bird against a glowing sky by Norway’s Åsmund Keilen) won top honors, reflecting an ongoing popular fascination with wildlife and conservation themes .
  • Lifestyle & Pop Culture Trends: A striking shift in 2025’s lifestyle trends was the embrace of slower, simpler living among young people. The viral phrase of the year was “Farm Girl Summer,” a social media phenomenon celebrating rustic, back-to-basics activities . Tired of “hustle culture” and digital overload, many Gen Z and Millennials turned to gardening, baking, thrift shopping, and other cottagecore staples as a form of self-care . “After years of hustle, people are now valuing peace, greenery, and wholesome living,” one lifestyle expert noted – with millions of #FarmGirlSummer and #CottageCore2025 posts flooding Instagram and TikTok . This dovetails with a broader focus on wellness and sustainability: interest in DIY crafts, farmers’ markets, and eco-friendly fashion hit new highs. Travel and leisure trends also reflected the social mood. “Grown-up summer camps” and wellness retreats surged in popularity, as adults sought to reconnect offline and de-stress. Yelp reported that searches for adult summer camps spiked 347% year-over-year . Companies offering digital detox retreats, yoga getaways, and hobbyist camps (from songwriting workshops to hiking excursions) saw booming business . In urban life, a quirky trend of “hybrid hangouts” emerged – venues that combine social activities with errands or hobbies (think laundromat-bars, bookstore-cafes, plant-shop lounges). Yelp noted searches for combo concepts like laundromat-bars jumped 347%, as people looked to make everyday activities more communal and fun . On the pop culture front, television and streaming had a big nostalgic moment with the much-anticipated return of Stranger Things (its final season became one of 2025’s most-watched streaming events). At the box office, franchise fatigue set in – several high-budget superhero films underperformed, while a few original films and indie darlings broke out unexpectedly. The year also saw the entertainment industry rebound from labor strikes that had stalled Hollywood productions in 2024: by late 2025, new deals with writers and actors were in place, and studios rushed to green-light content for 2026. Meanwhile, the music world was dominated by a mix of retro vibes and technological innovation – vintage 1980s aesthetics remained trendy, even as AI-generated music and virtual artists started charting in various countries.
  • Social Media and Creativity: Social media usage plateaued in some demographics, with more people mindful of screen time. There’s growing popularity of “digital detox” challenges and apps that limit usage. However, creative content boomed on newer platforms: short-form video and AI-assisted content creation led to viral memes and trends at an unprecedented pace. An interesting cultural wrinkle in 2025 was the rise of AI companions and chatbots as a form of social interaction. Advanced AI chatbots (some with customizable “personas”) became surprisingly common as virtual friends or even therapists. Reports emerged of people forming new kinds of relationships with AI bots, blurring lines between technology and intimacy . This raised fresh ethical questions, but also showed how far AI has integrated into daily life. Lastly, global sports and events in culture: 2025 didn’t have an Olympics or World Cup, but it saw the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup buzzing (with stadium completions and ticket lotteries ongoing). E-sports continued to grow, with record viewership for events like the League of Legends championship. And in a lighter trend, the humble game of pickleball truly went global – the paddle sport’s popularity exploded beyond North America, becoming a favored recreational activity in Europe and Asia and symbolizing the year’s ethos of social, low-tech fun.

Global Affairs: Politics, Conflicts, and Geopolitical Shifts

  • Political Changing of the Guard: The past few months brought significant political changes in major countries. In the United Kingdom, a general election in July 2024 (with effects felt into 2025) resulted in a landslide victory for the Labour Party under Keir Starmer, ousting the Conservatives after 14 years in power . Starmer became the new Prime Minister, prompting a shift in UK policies on climate, economy, and Brexit implementation. Across Europe, several nations saw election upsets and the rise of outsider parties, reflecting voter impatience with the status quo. Meanwhile, the United States navigated the first year of a new administration. Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025 led to stark policy reversals: retraction of climate initiatives, cuts to scientific agencies (NASA, NOAA, EPA) , and a more isolationist stance internationally. U.S.–China tensions simmered but did not boil over, as both powers focused on domestic economic issues. In Asia, India prepared for a national election in 2026 with Prime Minister Modi’s government touting India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy (and now the most populous nation, having surpassed China). Several countries in Latin America and Africa also held elections in late 2025, many of which echoed a common theme: voters demanding action on inflation and corruption. Notably, Argentina elected a surprise outsider candidate in late 2025, reflecting a broader anti-incumbent wave.
  • Geopolitical Alliances and Tensions: Global alliances underwent realignments. The BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) officially welcomed new members (including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and others) after its 2024 expansion announcement, signaling the growing clout of emerging economies. This expanded BRICS held a summit in 2025 focusing on trade in local currencies and development bank reform. China continued its diplomatic outreach, mediating talks in conflict zones (it took a role in Middle East peace discussions) and investing heavily in Global South infrastructure via the Belt and Road. Russia deepened its ties with China and Iran as Western sanctions persisted. In the Middle East, there were tentative steps towards de-escalation: Saudi Arabia and Iran stuck to the rapprochement they began in 2023, and several proxy conflicts in the region saw reduced violence. A historic ceasefire in Yemen held through 2025, offering hope in that long war. However, a new crisis emerged in Africa – fighting in Sudan between rival factions (which started in 2023) dragged on, displacing millions and raising regional instability. International efforts to broker peace there made little progress through late 2025.
  • War in Ukraine – Stalemate and Negotiations: The Russia–Ukraine war entered its third year with grinding battles continuing in eastern and southern Ukraine. Ukraine’s much-anticipated summer 2025 counteroffensive made some gains but fell short of a decisive breakthrough. By late 2025, Russia still occupied roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including nearly all of the Donbas region . A new diplomatic track opened after the U.S. administration changed – President Trump pledged to broker peace “within 24 hours,” dispatching envoys to talk with Moscow and Kyiv. Negotiations did occur: in August, Trump met with Russia’s Putin in Alaska, then with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Florida . However, these talks have not yet yielded a truce. In fact, Russia and the U.S. jointly rejected calls for a temporary ceasefire, arguing it would just freeze the conflict without resolving core issues . Moscow insists that Kyiv must make a “bold decision” to cede the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donbas to Russia as part of any peace deal – a demand Ukraine so far flatly rejects. European leaders (and Ukraine’s government) worry that Washington might eventually pressure Ukraine into an unfavorable deal, effectively cementing Russia’s land-grab . Those fears were heightened as Russian forces continued creeping advances, reportedly seizing several square miles of territory per day during parts of 2025 . For now, the war remains a violent stalemate. Civilian suffering in Ukraine is compounded by infrastructure attacks that caused winter power outages, while Russia faces the attrition of sanctions and occasional drone strikes on its soil. Absent a dramatic shift on the battlefield or in Moscow’s stance, the conflict looks sadly set to grind on into 2026, even as back-channel talks persist in the hopes of a breakthrough.
  • Global Conflict and Security: Outside Ukraine, other conflicts and security challenges persisted. In the Middle East, tensions flared again between Israel and militant groups in Gaza/Lebanon. A brief war erupted in October 2025 following a border incident, but it ended within weeks under an Egypt-brokered ceasefire. Global terrorism incidents were relatively fewer than a decade ago, but the threat evolved – intelligence agencies warned of cyberattacks and drone-based terrorism as emerging risks. In Africa’s Sahel region, extremist insurgencies and coups created a band of instability across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, prompting France and other European forces to fully withdraw peacekeepers. Humanitarian crises deepened in several places: aside from Ukraine and Sudan, Ethiopia’s fragile truce in Tigray held, but a new crisis in West Africa (a severe drought and famine in the Horn) put millions at risk. International aid agencies appealed for record relief funds as climate-related disasters – from catastrophic floods in South Asia to historic wildfires in southern Europe – affected tens of millions of people.
  • Climate Diplomacy and Energy Geopolitics: As noted in Science/Climate, the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil became a focal point of global diplomacy in late 2025. It showcased a rift: developing countries and climate-vulnerable nations demanded more action, while a coalition of oil producers blocked any language on phasing out fossil fuels . The summit’s one concrete achievement was a commitment by wealthy countries to dramatically increase climate adaptation finance for poorer nations . Notably, President Lula of Brazil emerged as a global climate voice, leveraging the Amazon’s symbolism; Brazil launched a “Tropical Forest Fund” to pay countries to preserve rainforests . On the energy front, geopolitics of oil and renewables continued to evolve. The OPEC+ alliance (led by Saudi Arabia and Russia) managed oil output to keep prices relatively stable around $80–90/barrel. They briefly announced a production cut extension into 2024, balancing markets against rising non-OPEC output (like U.S. shale). At the same time, investment in clean energy in 2025 exceeded $1.7 trillion globally, outpacing fossil fuel investments – a sign that the energy transition is accelerating despite political headwinds. This transition is also reshaping international relations: countries rich in critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earths) gained new strategic importance, leading to what some call a “new resource scramble” in parts of Africa and South America. Multilateral efforts, such as an agreement to fund renewable projects in developing nations (announced at the G20), offered some optimism that cooperation can happen even amid great-power rivalry.
  • International Cooperation and Events: Amid the challenges, global cooperation did score a few wins. The United Nations successfully coordinated a global response to the 2025 avian flu outbreak, preventing it from becoming a human pandemic – a relief after recent years. A landmark treaty on marine biodiversity came into force, protecting large swathes of the high seas for conservation. Though a hoped-for treaty to curb plastic pollution stalled earlier in the year, many countries and even some big corporations pledged to cut plastic use dramatically by 2030 . In space, the International Space Station marked 25 continuous years in orbit with participation from 20+ nations, underscoring a successful international partnership even as terrestrial politics tense up . And global sports provided moments of unity: the 2025 Women’s World Cup (held in India for the first time) was a cultural sensation, and preparations ramped up for the 2026 World Cup across North America. As we step into 2026, the world faces no shortage of tests – but also remarkable innovation and resolve in the face of them. The past quarter’s breakthroughs and events, from the microscopic scale of gene editing to the vast stage of geopolitics, together set the stage for the year ahead.

Sources:

  • Science & health highlights: Knowable/Stacker “Top Science Stories of 2025” ; Smithsonian Magazine ; NASA news release ; Reuters climate summit report ; EPA report on 2025 LA wildfires .
  • Technology & AI: TechRadar Year-in-Review ; CRN tech news recap ; AI News Hub year-end trends ; Nature/Annual Reviews (quantum computing) .
  • Finance & economy: International Banker (Bitcoin $100k) ; Yahoo Finance/Guardian (BTC $126k high) ; Reuters/CRN (NVIDIA $5T, AI investment) ; IMF World Economic Outlook (Oct 2025) .
  • Culture & lifestyle: Artnet/Observer art market review ; Artnet News (Art Basel Paris) ; World Photography Awards ; Impressive Times (Farm Girl Summer) ; Martha Stewart via Yelp (2025 trends) ; Smithsonian (AI chatbots in society) .
  • Global affairs & politics: Reuters war and diplomacy reports ; Reuters COP30 summary ; Guardian/Reuters UK election coverage ; Reuters Kremlin/Trump talks ; IMF/World Bank reports .