Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 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 December 23, 1988
Full News Archive
- Headline: A Fault Line Of His Own Making. Impact: This film review sparked a cultural renaissance of 'coke-fueled' indie films, leading to a 300% increase in ironic mustaches and thrift store fashion. Who knew a trendy couple's downfall would create a generation of hipsters?. Fact: Did you know that caffeine was the original trendy drug before cocaine stole the spotlight? Just imagine the lattes!.
- Headline: Evolution of Legal Education at Yale. Impact: This headline ignited a legal revolution, inspiring countless law students to question if they were actually learning anything useful. As a result, a secret society of disgruntled graduates formed, plotting to create a law school curriculum based on popular TV shows.. Fact: Fun fact: Yale Law alumni include a former President and several Supreme Court justices. The irony? Most of them probably just wanted to be on TV!.
- Headline: Dow Jones Average Declines Again. Impact: The Dow's slight dip was the butterfly that flapped its wings and caused the next economic crisis. Investors panicked, leading to a worldwide shortage of avocado toast in cafes everywhere. Truly tragic.. Fact: Did you know that in the early 2000s, people actually thought 2,160.36 was a great price for a stock? Ah, simpler times before we learned about inflation!.
- Headline: ABOUT REAL ESTATE; Four Staten Island Developers Build Midrise Condos. Impact: The rise of midrise condos in Staten Island led to an unexpected influx of hipsters and artisanal pickle shops. Gentrification? More like 'hipster-fication'—as if the world needed more overpriced coffee and musty vinyl records.. Fact: Did you know that Staten Island is often referred to as the 'forgotten borough'? Ironically, it’s now the trendiest place to forget your wallet!.
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