Reading the Book of Life: The Genome Decoded
On April 14, 2003, an international consortium announced it had finished sequencing the 3 billion DNA letters of the human genome — the instruction book of every one of us.
Tales from the year 2003
When the Lights Went Out for 50 Million People
On August 14, 2003, sagging power lines and a failed alarm in Ohio triggered a cascade that blacked out 50 million people across the Northeast and Ontario.
The Night Mars Came Closer Than Ever
On August 27, 2003, Mars swung closer to Earth than it had in nearly 60,000 years — and millions of people stayed up to watch the red planet blaze.
21 Hours That Made China a Space Power
On October 15, 2003, Yang Liwei rode Shenzhou 5 into orbit, making China the third nation to launch a human into space.
Blessed Teresa: The Nun of Calcutta Is Beatified
On October 19, 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa in St. Peter's Square, six years after the death of the nun who served Calcutta's poorest.
Roses Topple a President
On November 23, 2003, Georgia's Eduard Shevardnadze resigned after three weeks of peaceful protests, ending the bloodless Rose Revolution.