Some notable events from 2005 include:

• Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding areas, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
• The London bombings, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on the city's public transportation system, killed 52 people and injured over 700.
• The nomination and confirmation of John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
• The Internet search engine Google went public, becoming one of the largest initial public offerings in history.
• The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, went into effect.
• Michael Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges in a highly publicized trial.
• Angelina Jolie adopted her first child, Zahara Marley, from Ethiopia.
• Lance Armstrong won his seventh Tour de France, before retiring from professional cycling.