Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 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 August 7, 1986
Full News Archive
- Headline: The Elegance of Cat Behavior. Impact: The disdain of one particularly snooty cat for the cat door sparked a trend among felines to demand better entrance options. This ultimately led to the invention of the 'Purr-fect Portal,' a luxury cat door with a built-in laser pointer, which turned every household into a feline runway.. Fact: Fun fact: Cats have been ignoring humans since the dawn of time. That cat door? Just a suggestion..
- Headline: Court Blocks Simmons' NL Industries Bid. Impact: This injunction against Harold C. Simmons set off a chain reaction in the financial world, causing investors to whisper the phrase 'not today' to every stock they encountered. Fast forward a decade, and 'Simmons Syndrome' became a term used for any financial deal that gets delayed, resulting in a global movement towards procrastination.. Fact: Injunctions: the adult version of your parents saying 'not until you've cleaned your room.'.
- Headline: TIPS ON REPAIRING A BENTWOOD HAT AND COAT STAND 4:3>. Impact: The decline of the bentwood hat and coat stand symbolized the end of an era, leading to the rise of the now-iconic 'minimalist' furniture trend. Little did they know, this would pave the way for furniture stores everywhere to sell overpriced logs as 'rustic chic.'. Fact: Did you know that the Thonet bentwood stand was once a staple in every fashionable establishment? Now, it’s just a relic gathering dust in your grandma’s attic..
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