Inventions & Breakthroughs of February 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 February 28, 1988
Full News Archive
- Headline: Housing Challenges for the Elderly. Impact: The tangled bureaucracy of housing for the elderly inspired a wave of bureaucratic memes that lasted for decades, culminating in the rise of the 'Elderly Housing Hotline,' where confused children call to ask if grandma's room can be painted pink.. Fact: Red tape is actually a color; so if your housing application is taking too long, you can always blame it on the decorators!.
- Headline: Women Artists Highlight Social Issues. Impact: This exhibition sparked an underground art movement where every artist felt compelled to include a social theme, leading to an absurd future where even cereal boxes featured existential art critiques.. Fact: Art is subjective, but if you ask my cat, he thinks a blank canvas is the pinnacle of creativity..
- Headline: LIBERTARIAN GUILTY IN INCOME TAX CASE. Impact: The conviction of this Libertarian led to a nationwide campaign for tax evasion awareness, ensuring that future politicians now know exactly how to avoid filing taxes—by simply not running for office.. Fact: Libertarians love freedom so much, they even want to be free from the shackles of tax returns!.
- Headline: GARDENING; New Perennials Worth Trying. Impact: The introduction of new perennials fueled an obsession that caused people to start naming their plants, leading to a future of plant social media accounts and the eventual rise of plant influencers.. Fact: Gardening: the only hobby where you can spend hours talking to your plants and still be considered normal—by gardening standards..
- Headline: The Return of Hardball Economics?. Impact: The bone-marrow registry in Stamford set off a chain reaction of municipalities wanting to one-up each other, leading to bizarre registries like 'Left-Handed Guitarists' and 'People Who Prefer Pineapple on Pizza.'. Fact: Bone marrow transplants are super important. But can we also talk about how pineapple on pizza is just a cry for help?.
- Headline: Stamford Is Setting Up A Bone-Marrow Registry.
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