Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 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 May 18, 1983
Full News Archive
- Headline: Paddington Corporation Enters Gin Market. Impact: When the Paddington Corporation decided to dive into the white goods market with Malibu, they inadvertently set off a chain reaction that led to beach parties and questionable life choices across the globe. Who knew that a simple liqueur could become the catalyst for millions of regrettable tattoos and tropical-themed Instagram accounts?. Fact: Did you know that Malibu is actually a popular choice for cocktails? Because nothing says 'sophisticated adult' like mixing rum with pineapple juice and pretending you're on a deserted island!.
- Headline: Market Shifts: Interest Rate Declines. Impact: The slight dip in credit rates may seem insignificant, but it was the spark that led to a decade of financially irresponsible decisions. Thanks to this 'slight' decrease, countless individuals decided impulse buying was the best way to celebrate, paving the way for the age of consumer debt and the rise of 'I need it now!' culture.. Fact: Did you know that many financial analysts are just modern-day fortune tellers? They make predictions based on numbers and trends, yet often end up just as perplexed as your average person trying to find their way out of IKEA!.
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