🧠 Inventions of 1986
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
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)
HEADLINES ON November 26, 1986
Full News Archive
- Headline: Exploring 'Mosquito Coast' with Harrison Ford. Impact: Little did they know, Ford's decision to pack his family off to the jungle caused a chain reaction leading to the invention of the 'family vacation'—an experience now universally dreaded.. Fact: Did you know that mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animals on the planet? Maybe that's why the family was so whiny..
- Headline: The Nutcracker: A Ballet Masterpiece. Impact: The Nutcracker's sugary performance inspired a worldwide obsession with holiday sweets, directly leading to the annual holiday weight gain and the invention of the New Year's resolution.. Fact: Fun fact: Tchaikovsky originally wrote the score for a ballet about a nut that could crack itself. No one wanted to see that..
- Headline: Saving Whales: Star Trek IV Adventure. Impact: Saving a whale turned out to be the stepping stone for the environmental movement, leading to the creation of eco-friendly straws that still somehow ended up in the ocean.. Fact: Did you know that the original script included a subplot about the crew saving a plastic bag? But they decided it was too unrealistic..
- Headline: SCREEN: 'SOLARBABIES'. Impact: The quest for energy in 'Solarbabies' nudged humanity toward a future of renewable resources—though, ironically, we still haven't figured out how to stop fighting over them.. Fact: Did you know that 'Solarbabies' was originally pitched as a documentary about the struggles of finding a parking spot at a solar energy conference?.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1986, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
MCD
McDonald's
Price in 1986
$2.07
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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