Several significant events occurred in 2008, including:
1. The global financial crisis: In September 2008, the collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a financial crisis that spread throughout the world, leading to a severe recession.
2. The Beijing Olympics: The 2008 Summer Olympics were held in Beijing, China, from August 8 to 24, with more than 10,000 athletes from 204 countries participating.
3. The election of Barack Obama: In November 2008, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the office.
4. Cyclone Nargis: In May 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar (formerly Burma), causing widespread devastation and killing an estimated 138,000 people.
5. Large Hadron Collider: In September 2008, the world's largest and most powerful particle collider, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), was turned on for the first time at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland.