Inventions & Breakthroughs of February 1986
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Supercomputer (Cray-2)
2 
Artificial Intelligence Neural Networks Revival
3 
Portable GPS Receiver
4 
CD Burner Prototype
5 
Medical MRI Contrast Agents
6 
Automated Airline Reservation Systems
7 
Digital Telephone Switching Expansion
8 
Personal Laser Printer
9 
Electric Vehicle Research Program
10 
Space Telescope Deployment (Hubble Concept)
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON February 21, 1986
Full News Archive
- Headline: Exploring '9 1/2 Weeks' Film Experience. Impact: The release of '9 1/2 Weeks' sparked an entire subgenre of films that promised spicy escapades but delivered lukewarm plots, leading to a cultural expectation that every movie would feature at least one awkward bedroom scene. Thanks a lot, Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke.. Fact: Did you know that this film was so 'kinky' it made the '50 Shades' series look like a Sunday school lesson? Talk about setting the bar low!.
- Headline: Discover 'French Lesson' Film. Impact: 'French Lesson' helped popularize the idea that all English teens have a secret love affair with Paris, which led to a surge in poorly planned trips to France where they attempted to order croissants in a terrible French accent. Merci beaucoup!. Fact: Fun fact: The film was so authentic that it probably caused an actual spike in beret sales among wannabe hipsters in London..
- Headline: The Hitcher: A Horror Road Trip. Impact: 'The Hitcher' inadvertently created a generation of paranoid drivers who now check their backseat for axe-wielding psychopaths before even starting the engine. Thanks, Hollywood, for the new level of highway anxiety!. Fact: Did you know that 'Terror on the Highways' was almost the title of a safety campaign instead of a movie? They really missed out on some thrilling highway billboards!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1986, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
MCD
McDonald's
Price in 1986
$2.07
2025 dataset value
$154,145
McDonald's - If you invested $1,000 in 1986, it would be worth $154,145 today (154.1x return)
Rank #2
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1986
$0.08
2025 dataset value
$3,574,639
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1986, it would be worth $3,574,639 today (3574.6x return)
Rank #3
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1986
$0.06
2025 dataset value
$8,149,367
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1986, it would be worth $8,149,367 today (8149.4x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1
$50
Watchmen #1
$300
Swamp Thing #46
$75
Maus #1
$100
Crisis on Infinite Earths #12
$15
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Laser Tag
$75.00
Teddy Ruxpin
$300.00
Jenga
$300.00
My Little Pony (Generation 1)
$300.00
G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero line)
$1350.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
The Legend of Zelda
$350.00
Metroid
$500.00
Castlevania
$90,000
Dragon Quest
$200.00
Out Run
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Michael Jordan Rookie Card
$250,000
Fleer Michael Jordan Sticker
$16,900
1986-87 Fleer Basketball Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
$6,500
1986 Garbage Pail Kids (3rd Series)
$3,000
Topps 1986 Traded Barry Bonds XRC
$745