Inventions & Breakthroughs of June 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 June 12, 1989
Full News Archive
- Headline: MTV's Creative Contest Era. Impact: MTV's wild contests paved the way for the reality TV craze and the bizarre talent contests we see today. Without it, we might have been spared the existence of shows like 'America's Got Talent,' and we could have all lived in blissful ignorance.. Fact: Fun fact: MTV originally stood for 'Music Television,' but at this point, it might as well stand for 'Mediocre Talent Victims.'.
- Headline: Sporting Clays at North American Game Fair. Impact: The unpredictability of clay targets in shooting competitions led to a new breed of competitive shooters who felt the need to take their skills to the streets, resulting in a series of YouTube sensations and... well, let's not go there.. Fact: Did you know that Buffalo Bill could, in theory, break five clay pigeons with one shot? Too bad he didn't have an Instagram account to prove it..
- Headline: BUSINESS PEOPLE; Lomas Financial's Chief Optimistic on Recovery. Impact: Jess Hay's optimism in the face of financial disaster inspired a legion of entrepreneurs to believe that they, too, could rise from the ashes, eventually leading to the rise of motivational speakers who charge way too much to tell you to 'believe in yourself.'. Fact: Did you know that Lomas Financial became almost a household name? But let's be honest, most people still have no idea what a mortgage really is..
- Headline: 45 Minutes of Terror in Bar Ends With Arrest of Off-Duty Officer. Impact: The terrifying incident in the bar highlighted the need for stricter gun control and police oversight, leading to a series of laws that made it harder for someone with a drink in one hand and a gun in the other to terrorize anyone. Small victories, right?. Fact: Did you know that the phrase 'nice guys finish last' was probably invented after this incident? Because clearly, some people never got the memo about acting civil in public..
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