Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 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 August 11, 1983
Full News Archive
- Headline: Caring for Wooden Furniture Joints. Impact: If only more people had understood the importance of furniture joints, we might have avoided a future where IKEA assembly instructions became a form of modern art—an incomprehensible puzzle that has left generations in frustration.. Fact: Did you know that the worst thing for your furniture joints is overzealous cleaning? One too many polish sessions can turn your heirloom into a creaky disaster. Who knew dusting could lead to a family feud?.
- Headline: Innovative Kitchen Tools for Small Spaces. Impact: The invention of kitchen space savers led to the creation of culinary competitions where chefs now battle for space rather than flavor. Who knew that a plastic cutting board could spark an epic battle over countertop real estate?. Fact: It’s amazing how many kitchen gadgets exist to save space, yet we still somehow manage to find room for ten different types of spatulas. Because obviously, they all serve a unique purpose, right?.
- Headline: HERS Column by Letty Cottin Pogrebin. Impact: The introduction of forums like 'Hers' was a subtle nudge that kicked off a centuries-long debate over the importance of women's voices in media. It’s like setting off a chain reaction that led to hashtag activism and viral cat videos. Who knew?. Fact: Letty Cottin Pogrebin, writing in 'Hers', probably didn’t see that she was paving the way for future female writers to also tackle topics like self-care and endless debates about the perfect avocado toast recipe..
- Headline: WAYS TO GIVE THE FIREPLACE A SUMMER FACE. Impact: The trend of decorating non-functional fireplaces helped pave the way for the modern home decor industry, which somehow turned 'faux' into 'fabulous' and convinced us all that empty spaces need to be filled with overpriced knickknacks.. Fact: It's funny how we spend more time decorating around a fireplace that doesn’t work than actually using it. Maybe the next trend will be designing furniture that serves no purpose at all—oh wait, that's already a thing!.
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