Inventions & Breakthroughs of March 1982
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Compact Disc Player (Consumer)
2 
Laptop Computer Concept
3 
Medical CT Scanner Improvements
4 
Digital Audio Recording System
5 
Artificial Heart Implant
6 
Automated Teller Network Expansion
7 
Home Satellite Television
8 
Computer Virus Concept
9 
Electric Anti-Lock Braking System
10 
Portable Fax Machine
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON March 19, 1982
Full News Archive
- Headline: Growing Pains: A Troubling Tale. Impact: If only this teenage monster-man had chosen to pursue a career in knitting instead of crime, perhaps he would have disrupted the entire fabric of villainy in pop culture. Instead, we got a slew of 'bad boy' tropes that paved the way for every brooding anti-hero we now adore in film and TV.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'growing pains' is often used to describe the struggles of adolescence? Funny how it doesn't apply here, since this kid skipped right to the 'adult' version of pain for everyone involved..
- Headline: Victor Victoria: A Comedic Masterpiece. Impact: This film's hilarious premise likely led to a global increase in gender-bending performances, resulting in endless drag shows and an entire generation discovering that just because you can 'be' someone else doesn’t mean you should steal their car. Thanks, Blake Edwards!. Fact: Did you know that 'Victor/Victoria' was so groundbreaking in its exploration of gender roles that it made some people question their own identities? Or maybe they just realized they were really bad at picking movies..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1982, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
INTC
Intel
Price in 1982
$0.13
2025 dataset value
$274,575
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1982, it would be worth $274,575 today (274.6x return)
Rank #3
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1982
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$1,791,511
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1982, it would be worth $1,791,511 today (1791.5x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Uncanny X-Men #168
$20.00
Marvel Graphic Novel #5
$95,000
Daredevil #181
$2,600
The New Teen Titans #21
$50
Cerebus #39
$300
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Rubik's Cube
$150.00
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
$143.75
My Little Pony
$150.00
Conway's Game of Life
$100.00
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon!
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Pac-Man
$1,500.00
Pitfall!
$1,000.00
Q*bert
$33,400
Pole Position
$120.00
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
$450.00
⚾ Notable Trading Cards
Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie Card
$3,000
Lawrence Taylor Rookie Card
$18,000.00
Joe Montana Second Year Card
$76,250.00
Donruss Diamond Kings Reggie Jackson
$140