Here are some of the significant events that took place in the year 2003:

• The invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led coalition began on March 20, 2003.
• The Human Genome Project was completed, mapping out the human DNA sequence.
• The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged as a global health threat.
• The music downloading service, iTunes Store, was launched by Apple Inc.
• The Rugby World Cup was won by England, who beat Australia in the final.
• The European Union admitted 10 new member states, including Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta, and Cyprus.