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 30, 1986
Full News Archive
- Headline: Screen: Americans in Soviet Adventure. Impact: If only the Americans had stayed out of Soviet affairs, we might have avoided the bizarre obsession with red scare movies. Instead, they inadvertently paved the way for countless 'So Bad It's Good' film nights.. Fact: This movie was so odd, it made the 'B-movie' category look like Oscar contenders. Who knew Finland was behind so much cinematic chaos?.
- Headline: Exploring 'Bullies': A Familial Struggle. Impact: The brutalization of the new family sparked an unending cycle of revenge and clan feuds, eventually leading to reality TV shows that glorify dysfunction. Thanks, British Columbia!. Fact: If 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' was set in a clan-ruled British Columbia, it would've been a completely different show—more blood feuds, less lip gloss..
- Headline: COMPANY NEWS; BANKRUPTCY THREAT FOR PETRO-LEWIS. Impact: The bankruptcy of Petro-Lewis sent shockwaves through the oil industry, leading to a series of desperate mergers and acquisitions. It’s like a game of corporate Jenga that ended in tears.. Fact: $419 million in losses? That's a lot of money for a company to lose. They could have just invested in avocado toast and still had some left over..
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