Inventions & Breakthroughs of January 1989
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
World Wide Web Concept
2 
Portable Digital Assistant Concept
3 
Flash Memory
4 
Digital Mobile Phone Networks
5 
Medical Robotic Surgery Concept
6 
High-Definition Television (HDTV)
7 
Computer-Aided Geographic Information Systems
8 
Electronic Music Workstation
9 
Satellite Internet Concept
10 
Reusable Rocket Booster Studies
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON January 18, 1989
Full News Archive
- Headline: NYC Students Shine in Science Contest. Impact: This victory for NYC students set off a chain reaction, leading to an absurd competition for the 'Most Pretentious Science Fair' title, where students now present projects on things like Quantum Tofu and the Physics of Instagram Likes.. Fact: Lectins are proteins that can bind to carbohydrates; scientists still argue if they should be eaten or if they're just the hipster's way of saying 'no gluten'..
- Headline: Tidewater's Takeover Bid Insights. Impact: The Tidewater takeover bid triggered an unforeseen boom in the oil drilling meme economy, where people now joke about 'drilling for laughs'—who knew that was a thing?. Fact: Drilling for oil has been a pursuit fraught with danger, but it’s also the only industry where ‘going deeper’ is a compliment..
- Headline: BUSINESS PEOPLE; G. Heileman Brewing Gets a New President. Impact: Cutbush's ascension to the presidency of G. Heileman Brewing led to a bizarre trend of brewing companies hiring presidents like they're sports teams, resulting in a national shortage of actual presidents.. Fact: G. Heileman Brewing once produced a beer called 'Old Style', which is still a favorite for anyone who wants to feel young again while drinking something ancient..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1989, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1989
$0.28
2025 dataset value
$971,793
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1989, it would be worth $971,793 today (971.8x return)
Rank #2
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1989
$0.23
2025 dataset value
$2,127,569
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1989, it would be worth $2,127,569 today (2127.6x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Sandman #1
$300
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #1
$35.00
The New Warriors #1
$50
Amazing Spider-Man #316
$30
The Punisher War Journal #7
$40
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Game Boy
$540.00
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
$300.00
Polly Pocket
$150.00
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
$300.00
Ghostbusters Proton Pack
$300.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Tetris
$200.00
SimCity
$10.77
Prince of Persia
$150.00
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
$781.00
Golden Axe
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card
$2,726
Michael Jordan Hoops Card
$250,000
Barry Sanders Rookie Card
$6,000
Randy Johnson Rookie Card (Marlboro Ad)
$70.00
John Stockton Hoops Rookie Card
$500