Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 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 September 20, 1986
Full News Archive
- Headline: Malandro: A Glimpse into 40's Rio. Impact: If it weren't for this low-life triangle in World War II Rio, we might have ended up with a world where Hollywood kept its clean-cut image. Imagine a universe where everyone wore sequined gowns and swam in pools of wholesome milk instead of getting tangled in crime and drama. Yawn.. Fact: Did you know that 'Malandro' translates to 'rascal' in Portuguese? Seems fitting for a film that captures the essence of a charmingly shady character in a city full of corruption..
- Headline: Maurice Pialat's 'Police' With Gerard Depardieu. Impact: Maurice Pialat's film featuring Gerard Depardieu may have inspired a whole genre of grumpy detective films, leading to countless sequels and spin-offs. Thanks to this masterpiece, we now have a plethora of moody men solving crimes while sipping coffee in dimly lit cafes.. Fact: Gerard Depardieu once received a Golden Globe for his role in this film. I guess being a tough, lonely detective really pays off in awards. Who knew brooding could be so lucrative?.
- Headline: 'Zed and Two Naughts'. Impact: The somber British drama about lives affected by a car crash likely led to a spike in dramatic storytelling across cinema. It paved the way for every film that tries to make us cry while we watch characters spiral into existential dread over a bowl of popcorn.. Fact: This film is so specialized that it's practically a niche within a niche. If you don’t enjoy pondering life’s tragedies, you might want to skip this one—unless you enjoy suffering..
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