l also had Chernobyl in mind at first. It was a big thing, as it affected life as a kid in Europe directly.

But then I remembered all the news stories surrounding the Anti-Pershing protests.
These were in 1983, the year in which humanity perhaps was closest to complete annihilation ever.

Yes, the 80s were wild.

Challenger is my first, followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union

I only remember it because they wheeled out the TV's in the middle of school to watch it. Why did they do that?

1986 was wild. Chernobyl, Challenger, Olaf Palme assassination and Jakomäki Bank Robbery/Mikkeli hostage crisis that ended up in big car explosion seen on tv.