Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 1987
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Digital Camera Sensor Improvements
2 
Portable Cellular Phone
3 
Computer-Aided Surgery Systems
4 
Compact Flash Memory Concept
5 
Desktop Publishing Software (PageMaker)
6 
Medical Ultrasound Doppler Imaging
7 
Network File Sharing Protocols
8 
Automated Warehouse Robotics
9 
Digital Music Compact Disc Production
10 
Space Station Module Concepts
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 12, 1987
Full News Archive
- Headline: Breaking Barriers in Firefighting. Impact: Linda Willing’s bravery in fighting fires sparked a nationwide movement for gender equality in traditionally male-dominated fields. Fast forward a few decades, and you’ll find a future where firewomen not only extinguish flames but also hold the keys to the fire department’s coffee machine — a coveted position that changes the game for all caffeine lovers.. Fact: Did you know that the first female firefighters in the U.S. were hired in the 1970s? And yet, here we are in 2023, still having to remind people that women can carry hoses without needing a muscle endorsement from a superhero..
- Headline: Babies in Fashion: A Cultural Shift. Impact: The resurgence of babies in TV and film led to an explosion of toddler influencers by 2030. If you think adulting is hard, just wait until you have to compete with a diaper-clad, Instagram-famous toddler for a job. Spoiler alert: they always win.. Fact: Fun fact: The trend of babies in media is so strong that by 2025, there was a reality show about babies running for office. Surprisingly, they had more coherent policies than some actual candidates..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1987, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1987
$0.14
2025 dataset value
$1,945,817
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1987, it would be worth $1,945,817 today (1945.8x return)
Rank #2
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1987
$0.10
2025 dataset value
$4,778,667
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1987, it would be worth $4,778,667 today (4778.7x return)
Rank #3
INTC
Intel
Price in 1987
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$146,978
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1987, it would be worth $146,978 today (147.0x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #4
$150
Watchmen #12
$150
Daredevil #227
$500
X-Men #221
$125
Justice League #1
$1,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Teddy Ruxpin
$300.00
Koosh Ball
$75.00
Nerf Football
$900.00
Jenga
$300.00
Pound Puppies
$75.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
The Legend of Zelda
$500.00
Final Fantasy
$150.00
Metal Gear
$299.99
Street Fighter
$185.00
Contra
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1987 Fleer Michael Jordan #59
$18,100.00
1987 Topps Barry Bonds #320
$1,200
1987 Donruss Greg Maddux Rated Rookie #36
$300
1987 Topps Tiffany Bo Jackson #170
$170
1987 Panini Soccer Diego Maradona #82
$250,000