Life Timeline

For those born May 5, 1945.

Not your birthday? Find your timeline here.

1944
Before you were born

You're one of the first people who's never lived in a world without sunscreen.

In June 2015, James Hamblin offered advice on choosing the best sunscreen.

1945
Year 77

You were born in May of 1945. This year, The Atlantic celebrates its 160th birthday, making it 2 times as old as you.

The year you were born, Virgil W. Peterson wrote about the unreasonable leniency of the American justice system, as authorities prepared for a post-war crime wave.

1945
Beginnings

Around the time you were born, the Soviet Union announced the fall of Berlin.

In June 2002, Norman Stone wrote about the end of the fighting on the Eastern Front.

1963
Coming of age

Around your 18th birthday, the first James Bond film, Dr. No, premiered in the U.S.

In October 2013, James Parker examined the inner life of James Bond.

1969

NASA

Man on the Moon

At 24 years old, you were alive to behold people walking on the moon.

Over the years, the moon landing has come to be lauded as the pinnacle of human achievement, although it was often derided at the time. In 1963, NASA astronauts took to The Atlantic to plead the case for landing on the moon.

1974

AP

Contemporaries

In 1974, Bob Marley, who was born the same year as you, released one of his most popular songs, "No Woman, No Cry."

In July 2010, Hampton Stevens wrote about Hasidic artist Matisyahu's spin on reggae as an example of the "delightfully weird cultural cross-pollination" that's been part of pop music for decades.

1980
Half a life ago

Your life can be divided into two halves: before and after the 24-hour news cycle.

In October 2009, Mark Bowden wrote about the toll of constant coverage.

2007

NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute

Across the Universe

When you turned 62, you watched humankind reach the outer solar system.

With NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission in 2005, humans landed a probe in the outer reaches of the solar system for the first time, a moment Ross Andersen called the most glorious mission in the history of planetary science.

Today
History in the making

History is happening all around you, every day.

The Atlantic is here to help you process it, in stories like these: