🧠 Inventions of 1988
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
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
The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON April 8, 1988
Full News Archive
- Headline: George Burns in Body-Mind Switch. Impact: The film's unique premise of a body switch led to a global obsession with exploring identity, eventually inspiring countless teen dramas and reality shows. Who knew George Burns would be the inadvertent architect of thousands of awkward celebrity interviews?. Fact: Did you know that George Burns was actually born in 1896? That's right, he was old enough to remember when the wheel was invented!.
- Headline: Guru's Ghastly Ghost Calls to Survivors. Impact: The cult leader's massacre inadvertently sparked a wave of skepticism towards all self-help gurus, leading to a rise in internet conspiracy theories about the ‘real’ powers of positive thinking. Thanks for the paranoia, Hollywood!. Fact: Fun fact: Survivor stories often lead to more movies, but this one probably just led to more people questioning their life choices!.
- Headline: Detective Battles Drug Ring in 'Above the Law'. Impact: This detective film became a blueprint for future cop dramas, setting the stage for the never-ending cycle of 'good cops vs. bad guys' in movies, ultimately leading to the question: does anyone actually follow the law anymore?. Fact: By the way, 'splattery' is a technical film term. It means 'we ran out of budget for decent special effects'..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1988, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1988
$0.31
Value in 2025
$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
Value in 2025
$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