Inventions & Breakthroughs of November 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 November 17, 1983
Full News Archive
- Headline: Rise of Art Pottery Collecting in 1968. Impact: The resurgence of pottery collecting inspired an art renaissance that eventually led to the rise of hipster cafes, where artisanal lattes are served in 'vintage' mugs that cost more than your first car.. Fact: Did you know that some people will pay thousands for a piece of pottery just because it has a fancy mark? Meanwhile, my coffee mug from 7-Eleven is still going strong..
- Headline: Macy's Reports Strong First Quarter Earnings. Impact: The 24.6% earnings leap at Macy's led to such confidence in the retail sector that they decided to invest in a line of invisible clothing that somehow made them even richer. Spoiler alert: it didn't work.. Fact: Did you know that R. H. Macy started as a dry goods store? Now they sell everything from kitchen sinks to emotional distress..
- Headline: HELPFUL HARDWARE; HANDY ITEMS FOR REPAIRS. Impact: The trend of well-packaged tool kits sparked a DIY movement that has led to countless unfinished projects across the globe, with half-built furniture becoming the new status symbol for procrastinators.. Fact: They say a tool kit is essential for a new house. But, let's be honest, it's mostly for hanging that one picture you said you'd do last month..
- Headline: Julia Child Series on Dinners. Impact: Julia Child's dinner series not only popularized French cuisine in America but also inadvertently inspired countless kitchen disasters, as aspiring chefs tried to replicate her magic—leading to a spike in takeout orders.. Fact: Did you know that Julia Child was 6'2"? That's right—she could look down on all the bad cooks out there trying to follow her recipes..
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