Bad news, ranging from political conflicts and natural disasters to economic challenges, dominated the headlines. Additionally, social media and the constant availability of information intensified the sense of a perpetual crisis. These developments not only sparked concerns about the future but also led to a growing longing for hope and solutions.

Artificial intelligence has become mainstream and accessible to everyone through ChatGPT, Midjourney and other services. This has raised questions about its handling, use and authorship, as well as concerns that some tasks may soon be completely replaced by AI.

As a result of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, there was concern that there could be disruptions in energy supply. To avoid shortages and maintain a stable power supply, the government called on the population to consciously save energy.

Increased global demand for packaging and hygiene products during the pandemic led to shortages in the paper market. Price increases and impacts on industry and consumers were noticeable. At the same time, the concept of a circular economy, where resources are reused, gained importance.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased shift towards digital communication, remote work and distance learning. The pandemic required social distancing, which greatly limited in-person meetings.

Due to increasing environmental awareness, concerns about air pollution, and technological advancements, electromobility experienced a hype. Governments and car manufacturers offered financial incentives to promote the purchase of electric vehicles.

Several car manufacturers were accused of using illegal software in their diesel vehicles to activate their emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing.

After the federal election, the FDP withdrew from negotiations for a coalition with the words, "It is better not to govern than to govern wrong."

The word "postfaktisch" (post-truth) was chosen as the word of the year in 2016. It refers to a political situation where emotions and personal opinions become more important than facts and rational arguments.

The year was marked by global problems and major challenges, including the refugee crisis with many people fleeing from crisis areas to Europe, the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, and the conclusion of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The ongoing conflicts in countries like Syria and Iraq, the annexation of Crimea by Russia, the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa, and the conflict in the Gaza Strip made 2014 a year of crises.

The former NSA employee Edward Snowden revealed that the USA and other countries were secretly conducting mass surveillance. The NSA had collected millions of phone and internet data from citizens worldwide.

Based on the Mayan calendar, various apocalyptic prophecies circulated. A section of the calendar ended on December 21, 2012, triggering numerous speculations about the end of the world.

Due to the Greek debt crisis, there was a debate about a possible exit (Grexit) from the European Union.

Our Christmas card referred to the planned extension of the operational life of nuclear power plants in Germany. The government, consisting of CDU, CSU and FDP, amended the Atomic Energy Act accordingly in October 2010, despite massive protests in the country. In March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred, triggering a change of thinking in Germany about the safety and future of nuclear energy.

H1N1, also known as "swine flu," was a novel strain of influenza virus that spread rapidly worldwide. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic as the virus spread to many countries and proposed extensive measures for containment.

With the collapse of the US housing market, a global banking crisis and economic downturn began. The collapse of financial institutions and high unemployment led to a severe recession.