3 Most Popular Stories of 2008

Barack Obama Wins
The biggest story of the year didn't happen until November. Barack Obama, a junior senator from Illinois, became the first African American president of the United States. Especially popular were Obama's acceptance speech and his mention of a puppy in the White House.

The Death of Heath Ledger
The Oscar nominee died of an accidental overdose in January, at age 28. Interest in Mr. Ledger surged again during the summer when "The Dark Knight" hit theaters. Moviegoers couldn't stop talking about (and imitating) his frightening performance as the Joker. Why so serious?

Why do Olympic Divers Shower?
The Olympics were huge this year. One of the biggest stories out of Beijing concerned the mysterious showers in the WaterCube. Viewers wanted to know why the divers make a beeline for the showers after getting out of the pool. The answer: To keep muscles warm between dives. Washing away the chlorine is just a bonus.