Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 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 December 24, 1986
Full News Archive
- Headline: Screening of 'Native Son' Adaptation. Impact: The adaptation of 'Native Son' led to a surprising surge in literature classes, where students suddenly felt a sense of obligation to read something deeper than their social media feeds. This inadvertently triggered a nationwide existential crisis about the purpose of reading, culminating in the 'Great Book Club Boom' of the 1990s, where participants debated the merits of actual pages over Kindle screens.. Fact: Did you know that 'Native Son' was so impactful that it inspired a generation of students to ask, 'Wait, is my life really as tragic as Bigger Thomas's?' Spoiler: usually, yes..
- Headline: Sheila Tate: Chief Spokesman Contender. Impact: Sheila B. Tate's potential rise to chief spokesman for Reagan sparked a secret society of former press secretaries who believed they could change the world with better soundbites. This led to the infamous 'Spokesperson Wars' of the late 80s, where press briefings became gladiatorial arenas of wit and sarcasm, resulting in the invention of the 'snarky comment meter'.. Fact: Fun fact: The role of a press secretary has often been compared to that of a juggler—except the balls are actually flaming torches of misinformation. Good luck!.
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