:2004

• January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, killing all 148 aboard, making it one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Egyptian history at the time.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3365721.stm|title=Egypt plane crash claims 148 lives|date=2004-01-03|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118051755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3365721.stm|url-status=live}}
• January 4 – NASA's MER-A (Spirit) spacecraft lands on the surface of Mars.{{cite web|url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040104.html|title=Spirit Rover Bounces Down on Mars|website=NASA|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=March 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325023042/https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040104.html|url-status=live}}
• January 6 – Construction on the tallest human-made structure to date, the Burj Khalifa begins in Dubai UAE.
• January 8 – The RMS Queen Mary 2, at the time the largest ocean liner ever built, is christened by its namesake's granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite web|url=https://www.qm2.org.uk/history.html|title=The Cunard Liner Queen Mary 2|website=Queen Mary 2|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=May 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505212413/https://www.qm2.org.uk/history.html|url-status=live}}
• January 25 – NASA's MER-B (Opportunity) spacecraft lands on the surface of Mars.{{cite web|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125a.html|title=NASA Hears From Opportunity Rover On Mars|website=NASA|access-date=January 7, 2022|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120233737/https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/newsroom/pressreleases/20040125a.html|url-status=live}}
• January 26 – The MyDoom virus is first identified.{{Cite web |url=https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/mydoom-virus.html |title=[Review] MyDoom Virus: The Most Destructive & Fastest Email Worm [MiniTool Tips] |website=MiniTool |date=March 3, 2021 |publisher=Helen |access-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-date=December 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216143453/https://www.minitool.com/backup-tips/mydoom-virus.html |url-status=live }}

• February 4
• The DARPA LifeLog project by United States Department of Defense was canceled by the Pentagon, citing criticism concerning the privacy implications of the system. {{Cite magazine|title=Pentagon Kills LifeLog Project|url=https://www.wired.com/2004/02/pentagon-kills-lifelog-project/|date=4 February 2004|magazine=Wired}}{{Cite web|title=15 Years Ago, the Military Tried to Record Whole Human Lives. Badly|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/15-years-ago-the-military-tried-to-record-whole-human-lives-it-ended-badly/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Vice.com|language=en|date=21 May 2018}}
• Mark Zuckerberg launches "TheFacebook", later renamed to Facebook, a social networking website for Harvard University students.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/2/9/hundreds-register-for-new-facebook-website/|title=Hundreds Register for New Facebook Website|date=2004-02-09|newspaper=The Harvard Crimson|author=Alan J. Tabak|access-date=2022-02-04|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518221416/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/2/9/hundreds-register-for-new-facebook-website/|url-status=live}}
• February 13 – First EuroMillions transnational lottery drawn, in Paris.{{Cite web|website=€uro-Millions.com|title=EuroMillions Results for Friday 13th February 2004|url=https://www.euro-millions.com/results/13-02-2004|access-date=2024-12-22|language=en}}
• February 26 – Macedonian president Boris Trajkovski is killed in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/feb/26/balkans|title=Macedonian president killed in plane crash|last1=Jeffery|first1=Simon|date=2004-02-26|last2=agencies|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119083904/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/feb/26/balkans|url-status=live}}
• February 29 – Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide is overthrown in a coup d'état.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm|title=Embattled Aristide quits Haiti|date=2004-02-29|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506074430/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3519821.stm|url-status=live}}

• March 2 – A series of bombings occur in Karbala, Iraq, killing over 140 Shia Muslims commemorating the Day of Ashura.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/02/international/middleeast/blasts-at-shiite-ceremonies-in-iraq-kill-more-than.html|title=Blasts at Shiite Ceremonies in Iraq Kill More Than 140|last1=Burns|first1=John F.|date=2004-03-02|last2=Gettleman|first2=Jeffrey|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118122412/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/02/international/middleeast/blasts-at-shiite-ceremonies-in-iraq-kill-more-than.html|url-status=live}}
• March 7 – The 2004 Greek legislative election is held to elect all 300 members of the Hellenic Parliament and the New Democracy party, led by Kostas Karamanlis, won 165 out of 300 seats, ending over 11 years of rule by the PASOK party.{{Cite web |date=2012-07-22 |title=Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών - Αποτελέσματα ΕΘΝΙΚΩΝ Εκλογών 2004 |url=http://www.ypes.gr/el/Elections/NationalElections/Results/nationallectures2004/ |access-date=2022-03-28 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722093442/http://www.ypes.gr/el/Elections/NationalElections/Results/nationallectures2004/ |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}
• March 11 – Al-Qaeda bombings on Cercanías trains in Madrid, Spain, kill at least 192 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2006/04/11/auto_11m.html|title=elmundo.es. Documento: Auto del 11-M|website=www.elmundo.es|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=April 12, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060412150158/https://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2006/04/11/auto_11m.html|url-status=live}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20150315034747/http://www.zoomnews.es/499926/actualidad/espana/pilar-manjon-lamenta-ostracismo-las-victimas-once-anos-despues-del-11-m ZoomNews (in spanish)]. The 192nd victim died in 2014, after a decade in coma in a hospital of Madrid. She was the last hospitalized injured person.
• March 14 – The PSOE wins the election in Spain; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is elected Prime Minister of Spain, replacing José María Aznar.{{cite news |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/15/espana/1079305201_850215.html |title=Zapatero vence con casi 11 millones de votos |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=27 February 2020 |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519031103/https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/15/espana/1079305201_850215.html |url-status=live }}
• March 19 – The Konginkangas bus disaster kills 23 and injures 14 people in Äänekoski, Finland.{{cite news|url=http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20040319IE4|title=At least 23 dead in bus crash in Central Finland|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat International Edition|date=March 19, 2004|access-date=May 27, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930045643/http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20040319IE4|archive-date=2007-09-30}}
• March 28 – Hurricane Catarina, the first ever recorded South Atlantic hurricane, makes landfall in Santa Catarina, Brazil.{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/news/2004-03-28-brazil-storm_x.htm|title=First South Atlantic hurricane hits Brazil|date=2004-01-29|website=USA Today|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701090923/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/news/2004-03-28-brazil-storm_x.htm|url-status=dead}}
• March 29 – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are admitted to NATO, the largest expansion of the organization.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/02/nato|title=Seven join Nato in biggest expansion|agency=Press Association|date=2004-04-02|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122647/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/02/nato|url-status=live}}

• April 4 – The First Battle of Fallujah starts.
• April 8 – The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement is signed by the Sudanese government and two rebel groups, in order to put a pause on the War in Darfur.
• April 17 – Israeli helicopters fire missiles at a convoy of vehicles in the Gaza Strip, killing Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/mideast.violence/|title=Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike|date=2004-04-17|website=CNN|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207074455/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/mideast.violence/|url-status=live}}
• April 24 – Referendums on the Annan Plan for Cyprus, which proposes to reunite the island, take place in both the Greek-controlled and the Turkish-controlled parts. Although the Turkish Cypriots vote in favour, the Greek Cypriots reject the proposal.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/world/greek-cypriots-reject-a-un-peace-plan.html|title=Greek Cypriots Reject a U.N. Peace Plan|last=Sachs|first=Susan|date=2004-04-25|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=December 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218134934/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/world/greek-cypriots-reject-a-un-peace-plan.html|url-status=live}}

• May 1
• The European Union expands by 10 new member states: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/30/eu.enlargement/|title=EU welcomes 10 new members|date=2004-05-01|website=CNN|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224141614/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/04/30/eu.enlargement/|url-status=live}}
• The First Battle of Fallujah ends.

• May 9 – A stadium bombing in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia kills ten people, including regional governor Akhmad Kadyrov.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/europe/chechen-president-is-killed-in-bombing-at-holiday.html|title=Chechen president is killed in bombing at holiday|date=2004-05-09|website=New York Times|access-date=2023-02-02|archive-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127172816/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/09/international/europe/chechen-president-is-killed-in-bombing-at-holiday.html|url-status=live}}
• May 10 – 2004 Philippine presidential election: Incumbent president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo won a full six-year term as Philippine President.
• May 12–15 – The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, and is won by Ukrainian entrant Ruslana with the song "Wild Dances".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3715907.stm|title=Ukraine celebrates Eurovision win|publisher=BBC|date=2004-05-16|access-date=January 8, 2022|archive-date=May 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530110144/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3715907.stm|url-status=live}}

• June 1 – A United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti begins, the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).
• June 4 – Marvin Heemeyer takes his modified and armoured Komatsu D355A bulldozer (killdozer) on a rampage through the town of Granby, Colorado, causing approximately 7 million dollars worth of damage.{{cite web | url=https://allthatsinteresting.com/marvin-heemeyer-killdozer | title=Marvin Heemeyer Wanted Revenge — So He Built A 'Killdozer' | date=February 8, 2022 }}
• June 8 – 2004 transit of Venus.{{cite web|url=https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/vt-intro.html|title=The Venus Transit 2004|website=ESO|access-date=January 8, 2022|archive-date=January 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108191713/https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/vt-intro.html|url-status=live}}
• June 12–July 4 – Portugal hosts the UEFA Euro 2004 football tournament, which is won by Greece.
• June 21 – In Mojave, California, United States, SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/06/0621spaceshipone-first-private-spacecraft/|title=SpaceShipOne Reaches Space|last=Long|first=Tony|date=2004-06-21|magazine=Wired|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127152420/https://www.wired.com/2011/06/0621spaceshipone-first-private-spacecraft/|url-status=live}}
• June 28 – The U.S.-led coalition occupying Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), transfers sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/28/iraq.iraq1|title=US hands over power in Iraq|date=2004-06-28|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202122301/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/28/iraq.iraq1|url-status=live}}
• June 30 – Preliminary hearings begin in Iraq in the trial of president Saddam Hussein, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

• July 1 – The unpiloted Cassini–Huygens spacecraft arrives at Saturn.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3846195.stm|title=Cassini probe enters Rhea orbit|date=2004-07-01|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119101439/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3846195.stm|url-status=live}}
• July 11 – The Russian Federation stops recognizing Soviet Union passports as legal identification.{{cite web |url=http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/06-07-2011/118409-soviet_passport-0/ |title=Some Russians still live in the USSR - PravdaReport |publisher=English.pravda.ru |date=July 6, 2011 |access-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-date=February 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227141904/http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/06-07-2011/118409-soviet_passport-0/ |url-status=live }}

• August 1 – A fire in the "Ycua Bolaños-Botánico" supermarket in Asunción, Paraguay kills around 400 people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/04/world/6-are-charged-with-murder-after-paraguay-store-fire.html|title=6 Are Charged With Murder After Paraguay Store Fire (Published 2004)|first=Todd|last=Benson|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 4, 2004|access-date=March 23, 2019|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118204907/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/04/world/6-are-charged-with-murder-after-paraguay-store-fire.html|url-status=live}}
• August 3 – NASA's unpiloted MESSENGER spacecraft is launched, with its primary mission being the study of Mercury.{{Cite news|url=http://www.space.com/210-nasa-sends-mercury-messenger.html|title=NASA Sends Mercury a MESSENGER|last=Malik|first=Tariq|date=2004-08-03|newspaper=Space.com|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030834/http://www.space.com/210-nasa-sends-mercury-messenger.html|url-status=live}}
• August 12 – Lee Hsien Loong is sworn in as the third Prime Minister of Singapore.{{cite web |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes20040813-1.2.2 |title=Let us shape our future together |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB) |access-date=12 February 2020 |date=13 August 2004 |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209074258/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes20040813-1.2.2 |url-status=live }}
• August 13–29 – The 2004 Summer Olympics are held in Athens, Greece.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/3557922.stm|title=Olympics open in Athens|date=2004-08-13|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724140701/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics_2004/3557922.stm|url-status=live}}
• August 18 – Broadband internet connections surpass dial-up for the first time in the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/study-broadband-leaps-past-dial-up/|title=Study: Broadband leaps past dial-up|date=2004-08-18|website=CNet|access-date=2024-10-08|archive-date=March 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305223744/https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/study-broadband-leaps-past-dial-up/|url-status=live}}
• August 22 – Armed robbers steal Edvard Munch's The Scream, Madonna, and other paintings from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/22/scream.theft/|title=Armed robbers steal 'The Scream'|date=2004-08-23|website=CNN|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920195252/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/08/22/scream.theft/|url-status=live}}
• August 24 – After departing Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow, Volga-AviaExpress Flight 1303, a Tupolev Tu-134, explodes over Russia's Tula Oblast and crashes, killing all 43 people on board; minutes later, Siberia Airlines Flight 1047, a Tupolev Tu-154 departing the same airport, explodes over Rostov Oblast and crashes, killing all 46 on board. The Government of Russia declares the explosions to have been caused by female Chechen suicide bombers.

• September 1 – Beslan school siege: Chechen rebels take 1,128 people, mostly children, hostage at a school in Beslan, Russia. The crisis ends when Russian security forces storm the building, resulting in more than 330 people being killed.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090404112922/http://www.unicef.org/russia/media_4875.html 31 August 2006: Beslan – Two Years On], UNICEF
• September 9 – A car bomb of the Jemaah Islamiyah explodes at the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing 9 people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/sep/09/indonesia.australia1|title=Australian embassy bomb kills nine|date=2004-09-09|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2020-06-22|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117102334/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/sep/09/indonesia.australia1|url-status=live}}
• September 22 – West Sulawesi is established as the 33rd province of Indonesia.

• October 8 – Suicide bombers detonate two bombs at the Red Sea resort of Taba, Egypt, killing 34 people and injuring 171, mostly Israeli tourists.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/08/israel.travelnews|title=Dozens killed in bomb blasts at Sinai resorts|last=Urquhart|first=Conal|date=2004-10-08|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2017-02-07|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=February 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203201509/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/08/israel.travelnews|url-status=live}}
• October 9 – 2004 Australian federal election: John Howard's Liberal/National Coalition government is re-elected with an increased majority, defeating the Labor Party led by Mark Latham.{{cite web|url=https://australianpolitics.com/elections/federal-2004|title=2004 Federal Election | AustralianPolitics.com|website=australianpolitics.com|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126232837/https://australianpolitics.com/elections/federal-2004|url-status=live}}
• October 17 – Parque Central Complex fire: A fire that lasted over 15 hours destroyed almost one third of the East Tower of the Parque Central Urban Complex in Caracas, Venezuela.{{cite web|access-date=16 October 2012|title=Torre Este de Parque Central: 8 años después|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/caracas/121016/torre-este-de-parque-central-8-anos-despues|website=El Universal|archive-date=July 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709194415/https://www.eluniversal.com/caracas/121016/torre-este-de-parque-central-8-anos-despues|url-status=live}}
• October 19 – A team of explorers reach the bottom of Krubera Cave, the world's deepest cave, with a depth of 2,080 meters (6,824 feet).{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4472585.stm|title=Cavers smash world depth record|date=2005-04-22|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-02-07|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117085920/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4472585.stm|url-status=live}}
• October 20 – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is sworn in as the 6th President of Indonesia, becoming the first directly elected president in Indonesia.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/21/world/asia/indonesian-president-is-sworn-in-promising-a-cleaner-government.html|title=Indonesian President Is Sworn In, Promising a Cleaner Government|date=2004-10-21|website=New York Times|access-date=2019-04-18|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118235511/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/21/world/asia/indonesian-president-is-sworn-in-promising-a-cleaner-government.html|url-status=live}}
• October 27 – The Boston Red Sox win the World Series for the sixth time after completing a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. It was their first championship since 1918.
• October 29 – European heads of state sign in Rome the Treaty and Final Act, establishing the first European Constitution.{{cite web|url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/introduction_en.htm|title=SCADPlus: A Constitution for Europe|website=Europa|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104031911/http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/introduction_en.htm|archive-date=January 4, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-02-07}}

• November 2 – 2004 United States presidential election: George W. Bush is re-elected President of the United States, defeating his Democratic challenger John Kerry.
• November 7 – The Second Battle of Fallujah starts.
• November 13 – The European Space Agency probe SMART-1 arrives at the Moon, becoming the first European satellite to fly to the Moon and orbit it.{{Cite news|url=http://www.space.com/2839-smart-1-space-probe-slams-moon.html|title=SMART-1 Space Probe Slams into the Moon|last=Leonard|first=David|date=2006-09-03|newspaper=Space|access-date=2017-02-07|archive-date=February 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203031317/http://www.space.com/2839-smart-1-space-probe-slams-moon.html|url-status=live}}
• November 16 – NASA's hypersonic Scramjet breaks a record by reaching a velocity of about 7,000 mph (Mach 9.6) in an unpiloted experimental flight.{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Yvonne |date=2017-05-10 |title=X-43A Hyper-X |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/HyperX/index.html |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=NASA |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520121422/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/history/pastprojects/HyperX/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=NASA - NASA's X-43A Scramjet Breaks Speed Record |url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43_schedule.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=www.nasa.gov |language=en |archive-date=October 31, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031052522/https://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43_schedule.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=NASA scramjet smashes speed record |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6686-nasa-scramjet-smashes-speed-record/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203125551/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6686-nasa-scramjet-smashes-speed-record/ |url-status=live }}
• November 21 – Nintendo releases the Nintendo DS, the best-selling handheld game console, in North America.
• November 22 – The Orange Revolution begins, following a disputed presidential election in Ukraine where Viktor Yanukovych won against Viktor Yushchenko amid accusations of electoral fraud. A revote results in Yushchenko being declared the winner.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/12/ukraines-orange-revolution/305157/|title=Ukraine's 'Orange Revolution'|last=Schneider|first=William|newspaper=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=December 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206135055/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/12/ukraines-orange-revolution/305157/|url-status=live}}
• November 26 – The last known Po'ouli dies in captivity at the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Maui, Hawaii.
• November 30 – A McDonnell Douglas MD-82, operating as Lion Air Flight 538, overran the runway and crashed on a cemetery near Adisumarmo Airport, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, killing 25 people.{{Cite web |title=Runway excursion Accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) PK-LMN |url=https://aviation-safety.net/asndb/322504 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=aviation-safety.net}}

• December 14 – The world's tallest bridge, the Millau Viaduct over the Tarn in the Massif Central mountains, France, is officially opened.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4091813.stm|title=France shows off tallest bridge|date=2004-12-14|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=May 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506104059/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4091813.stm|url-status=live}}
• December 16 – the European Council decided to start accession negotiations for Turkey to become a full member of the European Union.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/12/16/eu.turkey/|title=EU agrees to Turkey entry talks|date=December 16, 2004|language=en|website=cnn.com}}
• December 21 – Iraqi insurgents attack a U.S. military base in the city of Mosul, killing 22 people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/deadly-attack-on-u-s-military-base|title=Deadly Attack on U.S. Military Base|date=2004-12-22|newspaper=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202100055/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/12/22/deadly-attack-on-us-military-base.html|url-status=live}}
• December 23 – The Second Battle of Fallujah ends.
• December 26 – The 9.1–9.3 {{M|w}} Indian Ocean earthquake shakes northern Sumatra with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). One of the largest observed tsunamis follows, affecting coastal areas of Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, killing 227,000 people.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30602159|title=Indian Ocean tsunami anniversary: Memorial events held|date=2014-12-26|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112195108/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30602159|url-status=live}}
• December 27 – Astrophysicists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching near Munich measure the strongest burst from a magnetar. At 21:30:26 UT Earth is hit by a huge wave front of gamma and X-rays. It is the strongest flux of high-energetic gamma radiation measured so far.{{Cite web |title=Starquake Reveals Hidden Structure of a Neutron Star |url=https://phys.org/news/2006-04-starquake-reveals-hidden-neutron-star.html |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=phys.org |language=en |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908155938/https://phys.org/news/2006-04-starquake-reveals-hidden-neutron-star.html |url-status=live }}
• December 30 – A fire in the República Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina kills 194.{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2011-04-21 |title=Argentina: 7 Members of Band Convicted in Club Fire |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/americas/21briefs-7MEMBERSOFBA_BRF.html |access-date=2022-07-28 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429070338/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/americas/21briefs-7MEMBERSOFBA_BRF.html |url-status=live }}
• December 31 – Taipei 101, at the time the tallest skyscraper in the world, standing at a height of {{convert|1,670|ft|m}}, officially opens.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3269477.stm|title=World's tallest building opens|date=2004-12-31|website=BBC News|access-date=2017-01-26|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117205156/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3269477.stm|url-status=live}}

• Metrocable (Medellín) Line K opens, the first modern urban transit cable car.{{Cite web |title=The Metrocable: transport by urban cable car in Medellín |url=https://www.centreforpublicimpact.org/case-study/urban-cable-car-medillincolombia |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=Centre For Public Impact (CPI) |date=March 25, 2016 |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908160059/https://www.centreforpublicimpact.org/case-study/urban-cable-car-medillincolombia |url-status=live }}

{{Main|2004 in film|2004 in television|2004 in video games}}

2004 was a year marked by many popular and highly grossing film releases such as Shrek 2, Spider Man 2, The Incredibles, The Passion of the Christ and Howl's Moving Castle. 2004 was also the year where Toho Studios would release Godzilla's 50th anniversary movie, Godzilla: Final Wars, the last Godzilla movie until Legendary Entertainment's Godzilla in 2014, and the last Japanese Godzilla movie until Shin Godzilla in 2016.

Many shows would debut and end in 2004, with Friends airing its final episode on May 6, 2004 after nearly a decade on air, and Lost airing its first episode on September 22 of the same year. Tsuburaya Productions would air the highly controversial Ultraman Nexus, the 17th entry of the Ultra Series on October 2, 2004. Though the series was poorly received when it first began its broadcast, it is now seen as one of the best entries of the Ultra Series.

The gaming industry would see the release of many FPS and sequel games in 2004, with some of the most famous being Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas{{Cite web |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=2004-03-01 |title=Rockstar announces Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for October '04 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rockstar-announces-grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-for-october-04 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074031/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rockstar-announces-grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-for-october-04 |url-status=live }} Halo 2,{{Cite web |title=Halo 2 prepares to storm retail shelves - Nov. 12, 2004 |url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/11/08/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=money.cnn.com |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074031/https://money.cnn.com/2004/11/08/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/ |url-status=live }} Metroid Prime 2: Echoes,{{Cite web |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=2004-02-09 |title=Nintendo hints at 2004 launch for Metroid Prime 2 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-hints-at-2004-launch-for-metroid-prime-2 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074031/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-hints-at-2004-launch-for-metroid-prime-2 |url-status=live }} Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door,{{Cite web |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Paper Mario: The Origami King Isn't the Thousand Year Door, Nor Does It Want to Be |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/paper-mario-the-origami-king-review-impressions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209022706/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/paper-mario-the-origami-king-review-impressions |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |website=USGamer}} and Half Life 2.{{Cite web |last=Dransfield |first=Ian |date=2004-10-18 |title=Half Life 2 Gold: 2004 release |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/half-life-2-gold-2004-release/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=VideoGamer.com |language=en-US |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074032/https://www.videogamer.com/news/half-life-2-gold-2004-release/ |url-status=live }} These titles are considered some of the greatest video games of all time.{{Cite web |title=International Video Game Hall of Fame Website |url=http://www.ivghof.info/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.ivghof.info |language=en-US |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074033/http://www.ivghof.info/ |url-status=live }}{{Citation |title=Gabe Newell: IVGHOF 2020 - 2000's era game - "Half Life 2" | date=May 6, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIXjylwvhCQ |access-date=2023-08-17 |language=en |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817074032/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIXjylwvhCQ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Most Influential Games Of The 21st Century: Half-Life 2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/most-influential-games-of-the-21st-century-half-li/1100-6466992/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116123449/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/most-influential-games-of-the-21st-century-half-li/1100-6466992/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=White |first=Sam |last2=Leedham |first2=Robert |date=2023-05-10 |title=The 100 greatest video games of all time, ranked by experts |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-video-games-all-time |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510142624/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best-video-games-all-time |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB}} The Nintendo DS also released this year, which grew to become the best-selling handheld console of all time. {{TOC limit|2}}

{{Main|Category:2004 births|Deaths in 2004}}

File:Nobel medal.png

• Chemistry – Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, Irwin Rose
• Economics – Finn E. Kydland, Edward C. Prescott
• Literature – Elfriede Jelinek
• Peace – Wangarĩ Maathai
• Physics – David J. Gross, Hugh David Politzer, Frank Wilczek
• Physiology or Medicine – Linda B. Buck, Richard Axel

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Category:Leap years in the Gregorian calendar