After a stunning celebration complete with fireworks, illuminated drones, and, of course, the lighting of the Olympic flame, the 2018 Olympic Games officially began in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on Friday.

But spinning snowboarders and soaring skiers weren’t the only reason to look skyward this week. The private aerospace corporation SpaceX launched a rocket into space and scientists from Austria and Oman prepared for a Mars mission.

On the ground, young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children — the DREAMers — continued to organize for their right to stay in the only country they’ve ever known. In the UK, women marched through the streets to celebrate British suffragettes who demanded and ultimately achieved the right to vote 100 years ago.

And back in Pyeongchang, North and South Korea reunited — if only for a moment. Athletes from both countries carried a flag depicting a unified Korean peninsula for the entire world to see during the Opening Ceremonies. The powerful demonstration of unity gives hope for deeper communication between two of the world’s most divided countries.


Fireworks go off after the Olympic flame was lit during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 9, 2018.
Image: Sean Haffey/Pool Photo/AP

1) 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang: Fireworks go off after the Olympic flame was lit during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, February 9.

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2) Mars Missions: A simulation Mars habitat, with a view of the night sky above in Oman's Dhofar desert, is pictured on February 7 during an analog field simulation in a collaboration between the Austrian Space Forum and the Oman National Steering Comittee preparing for future human Mars missions.

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3) Power Outage in Venezuela: View of the Chacao neighborhood during a partial power cut in Caracas on February 6. Critics pointed to the blackout as another example of the economic meltdown in Venezuela.  

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4) Taiwan Earthquake: Rescue workers stand guard in front of a cordon as the Yun Tsui building (back) leans to one side after an overnight earthquake in the Taiwanese city of Hualien on February 7. 

A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Feb. 6, 2018. The Falcon Heavy, has three first-stage boosters, strapped together with 27 engines in all.
Image: Terry Renna/AP

5) SpaceX Rocket Launch: A Falcon 9 SpaceX heavy rocket lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., February 6. The Falcon Heavy, has three first-stage boosters, strapped together with 27 engines in all. It marked the first time a private company sent a rocket that heavy into space, but it was also a reminder that space exploration can be damaging to the environment. The rocket held 440 tons of jet fuel, which has a high carbon content, meaning it releases a lot of carbon dioxide into the air when burned, as well as contributes to the growing issue of space debris. 

People stroll on the snow-covered Champ de Mars during a snowfall in Paris, France, Feb. 9, 2018. The Eiffel Tower is closed and authorities are telling drivers in the Paris region to stay home as snow and freezing rain have hit a swath of France ill-prepared for the wintry weather.
Image: Michel Euler/AP

6) Winter Weather in Paris: People stroll on the snow-covered Champ de Mars during a snowfall in Paris, France, February 9. The Eiffel Tower is closed and authorities are telling drivers in the Paris region to stay home as snow and freezing rain have hit a swath of France ill-prepared for the wintry weather.

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7) Immigration Activists And Dreamers Protest In Washington, DC: Police arrest immigration activists conducing an act of civil disobediance in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building on February 7 in Washington D.C. A coalition of activists from across the U.S. staged the demonstration to pressure Congress to pass legislation protecting 'Dreamers' as part of federal budget negotiations.

North Korea's Hwang Chung Gum and South Korea's Won Yun-jong carries the flag during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 9, 2018.
Image: Jae C. Hong/AP

8) North and South Korea in Pyeonchang: North Korea's Hwang Chung Gum and South Korea's Won Yun-jong carry the flag during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, February 9.

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9) Women's Suffrage Centenary In The UK: Women dressed as suffragettes take part in a photocall in Parliament Square on February 6 in London, England. Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the Representation of People Act 1918, which gave women the vote. 

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10) Winter Weather in France: Afghan refugees gather in a makeshift camp as snow falls in Paris on February 9. The north-west of France has received fresh snowfall, affecting transport in the Ile-de-France region especially in Paris.

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11) Children in Gaza: Palestinian children play with a ball outside a UN food distribution warehouse at the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza strip on February 4. 

Editorial

Demand Equity

11 Striking Pictures From a Week of Olympic Proportions

By David Brand  and  Olivia Kestin