Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 1940
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Photocopier (Xerography)
2 
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Concept
3 
Jet Engine Flight Demonstration
4 
Synthetic Detergent
5 
Mass-Produced Nylon Stockings
6 
Proximity Fuse
7 
Electronic Fire Control System
8 
Polyurethane Foam
9 
Early Speech Recognition Machine
10 
Automatic Anti-Lock Brakes Concept
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON December 22, 1940
Full News Archive
- Headline: Moley Buys Farm Property. Impact: This seemingly mundane purchase led to an agricultural renaissance, inspiring countless urban dwellers to buy 'farms' with the intention of raising chickens in their backyards, thus creating the modern hipster farming movement.. Fact: Moley’s purchase was just the beginning of a trend where city folks would romanticize rural life while still being terrified of actual dirt..
- Headline: NAZI SHIPS IN JAPAN MAY BECOME RAIDERS; Shanghai Reports Right to Arm Conceded--Bases Also Sought. Impact: This event set the stage for a multi-national naval chess game, where everyone was trying to outsmart the Nazis—spoiler alert: it took a while, but eventually, they were outsmarted.. Fact: Nazi ships in Japan were about as welcome as a wet sock at a party, but they really thought they could just sail in and take over like they were at a buffet..
- Headline: LEFTIST LEADER RESIGNS; New Zealand Marine Minister to Give Up Public Life. Impact: The resignation of a leftist leader in New Zealand opened the door for a new political climate that inspired future generations to believe they could actually make a difference, even if most of them ended up just tweeting about it.. Fact: New Zealand's political scene is so laid-back that resignations are often treated like a casual day at the beach—'Oh, you’re leaving? Cool, want a drink before you go?'.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1940, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1940
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$3,433,941
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $3,433,941 today (3433.9x return)
Rank #2
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1940
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657
Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)
Rank #3
KMB
Kimberly-Clark
Price in 1940
$0.69
2025 dataset value
$147,887
Kimberly-Clark - If you invested $1,000 in 1940, it would be worth $147,887 today (147.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman #1
$2,220,000
Flash Comics #1
$1,500
Green Lantern #1
$150,000
Detective Comics #38
$42,000
All Star Comics #3
$2,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Lone Ranger Frontier Town
$150.00
Red Ryder BB Gun
$250.00
Sorry!
$30.00
Paper Dolls
$35.00
Microscope Kit
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Walt Disney Comics and Stories #1 Card
$800
Superman Gum Cards
$800
G-Men and Heroes of the Law
$11.00
1940 War Gum Cards
$1,500
1940 Play Ball Baseball Cards
$3,000