1988

The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United States (National Science Foundation Network) and Europe (Nordunet) as well as the first Internet-based chat protocol, Internet Relay Chat.

[1] The concept of the World Wide Web was first discussed at CERN in 1988.

[2] The Soviet Union began its major deconstructing towards a mixed economy at the beginning of 1988 and began its gradual dissolution.

[3] The first extrasolar planet, Gamma Cephei Ab (confirmed in 2003), was detected this year and the World Health Organization began its mission to eradicate polio.

Global warming also began to emerge as a more significant concern, with climate scientist James Hansen testifying before the U.S. Senate on the issue.