Inventions & Breakthroughs of April 1983
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Cellular Telephone Commercial Launch
2 
Domain Name System (DNS)
3 
Personal Computer Mouse
4 
Compact Disc-ROM
5 
Artificial Intelligence Expert Systems
6 
Global Positioning System Deployment
7 
Portable CD Player (Discman)
8 
Medical Laser Eye Surgery
9 
Computer-Aided Drug Design
10 
Electronic Trading Systems
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON April 16, 1983
Full News Archive
- Headline: El Paso Arms Smuggling Bust. Impact: The defeat of arms smugglers in El Paso created a butterfly effect, leading to a sudden surge in the popularity of DIY home defense projects. Fast forward a few decades, and you’ll find the rise of overly ambitious suburbanites building underground bunkers, convinced they need to fend off the 'next big thing.'. Fact: Did you know that arms smuggling is one of the few professions where you can literally never have too many shady connections? It's like networking but with a lot more danger and a lot less LinkedIn..
- Headline: Crystal: A Search for Rarity. Impact: The struggle of replacing crystal stemware led to the rise of 'vintage' thrift shops, which subsequently fueled a bizarre trend of hipsters drinking craft cocktails from chipped goblets, convinced they were 'keeping it real.'. Fact: Did you know that some people will pay top dollar for a single crystal glass? It’s like a trophy for adulting, except it comes with a side of fragile panic..
- Headline: MONEY GROWTH RATE EASES. Impact: The easing of money growth rates sent shockwaves through the economy, resulting in a future where every coffee shop barista suddenly fancied themselves an economist. Now, everyone has a strong opinion about interest rates and the dangers of inflation over a soy latte.. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'money doesn't grow on trees' was actually coined by an annoyed parent? It turns out that trees are not great with budgeting..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1983, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #2
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1983
$0.15
2025 dataset value
$784,047
Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1983, it would be worth $784,047 today (784.0x return)
Rank #3
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1983
$1.11
2025 dataset value
$188,194
Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1983, it would be worth $188,194 today (188.2x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The New Teen Titans #1
$150
Saga of the Swamp Thing #20
$50
Detective Comics #526
$15
Thor #337
$50
Miracleman #2
$1,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Cabbage Patch Kids
$150.00
My Little Pony
$150.00
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
$150.00
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
$175.00
Star Wars Return of the Jedi Action Figures
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Mario Bros.
$600.00
Dragon'S Lair
$200.00
M.U.L.E.
$182.44
Lode Runner
$115.00
Tapper
$150.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1983 Topps Baseball Tony Gwynn Rookie Card
$2,500
1983 Topps Baseball Ryne Sandberg Rookie Card
$1,560.00
1983 Topps Baseball Wade Boggs Rookie Card
$1,500
1983 O-Pee-Chee Wrestling Hulk Hogan Card
$1,000
1983 Donruss Baseball Three’s Company - Ripken, Hrabosky, And Fingers (Card #654)
Unknown