Inventions & Breakthroughs of January 1988
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Internet Worm
2 
Portable Laptop Computer
3 
Digital Video Compression Concept
4 
Global Positioning System Civilian Access
5 
Medical Imaging PACS Systems
6 
Touchscreen Interface Prototype
7 
Digital Signal Processor Expansion
8 
Automated Speech Recognition Systems
9 
Electronic Mail Client Software
10 
Reusable Launch Vehicle Studies
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON January 25, 1988
Full News Archive
- Headline: Indoor Golf Practice Tips for Winter. Impact: If Tom Watson hadn't broken that bottle of vintage burgundy, perhaps he would have invented a new indoor golf technique using only household items, leading to a worldwide trend of 'rug golf' tournaments today. Imagine the chaos at home improvement stores!. Fact: Did you know that Tom Watson is a golf legend? But apparently, his skills don't extend to wine preservation. Cheers!.
- Headline: Super Bowl XXII: Redskins' Road to Victory. Impact: The intense focus of Bob Hollway and Mike Lombardi on the conference championship games led to the creation of the NFL's unofficial 'scout's handbook,' which ultimately inspired the idea of reality TV scouting shows. Thanks, guys!. Fact: Did you know that scouting is to football what Tinder is to dating? Swipe right for a touchdown!.
- Headline: Scouting the Broncos for Super Bowl XXII. Impact: Bob Hollway and Mike Lombardi's scouting reports could have changed the course of football history, leading to a future where every fan thinks they could coach better than the professionals. Spoiler: they can't!. Fact: Did you know that the Denver Broncos once had a horse mascot named 'Thunder'? Talk about a running back with a kick!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1988, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1988
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$884,238
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1988, it would be worth $884,238 today (884.2x return)
Rank #2
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1988
$0.24
2025 dataset value
$2,037,337
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1988, it would be worth $2,037,337 today (2037.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Killing Joke
$75
Sandman #1
$500
Batman: A Death in the Family
$150
The Spectre #1
$42,000
Wolverine #1
$1,500
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
$200.00
Super Powers Collection
$150.00
Ghostbusters Proton Pack
$300.00
Polly Pocket
$250.00
Micro Machines
$300.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Super Mario Bros. 3
$120.00
Mega Man 2
$200.00
Dragon Quest III
$200.00
Super Contra
$150.00
Altered Beast
$269.99
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Michael Jordan 1988 Fleer Basketball #17
$250,000
Wayne Gretzky 1988 O-Pee-Chee Hockey #1
$2,040.00
Kenner Starting Lineup Steve Young 1988 Figure Card
$600
Super Mario Bros. 1988 Topps Nintendo Game Pack #1A
$500
Bo Jackson 1988 Topps Baseball #750
$129