🧠 Inventions of 1990
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
1 
World Wide Web Prototype
2 
Digital Cellular GSM Standard
3 
Photoshop Software
4 
Human Genome Project Launch
5 
Digital Audio Compression (MP3)
6 
Satellite Navigation Civil Expansion
7 
Pen-Based Computing Concept
8 
Electronic Whiteboard
9 
Medical Laparoscopic Surgery Tools
10 
Virtual Reality Headset Prototype
The Sounds of
The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON July 28, 1990
Full News Archive
- Headline: Junior's Troubling Cinema Debut. Impact: The chaotic antics of Junior inspired a generation of mischief-makers who eventually became the founders of reality television, proving that being an uncontrollable brat can indeed lead to fame and fortune.. Fact: This 'Bane of His Seniors' went on to spark numerous parenting guides on how NOT to raise a child. Spoiler: it involves letting them watch too much TV..
- Headline: Broadway's Journey to Purification. Impact: The so-called 'Broadway purifications' led to a series of bizarre cleaning rituals before performances, where actors would chant 'out with the bad vibes!' before every show, resulting in a surge in the incense market.. Fact: In the world of Broadway, 'purifications' typically involves a hefty dose of sage and a lot of side-eye from the stage manager..
- Headline: CHRONICLE. Impact: Roseanne's off-key anthem performance sparked a national debate about what constitutes 'singing' and led to the creation of the 'National Anthem Singing Standards Committee'—which, ironically, has never met.. Fact: Bush’s reaction was so intense, it inspired countless memes about patriotic disasters long before memes were even a thing. Who knew a bad anthem could be so impactful?.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1990, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1990
$0.38
Value in 2025
$1,285,532
Microsoft - If you invested $1,000 in 1990, it would be worth $1,285,532 today (1285.5x return)
Rank #2
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1990
$0.26
Value in 2025
$1,043,076
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1990, it would be worth $1,043,076 today (1043.1x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
New Mutants #98
$300
Spider-Man #1
$10,000
X-Men #266
$150
Harbinger #1
$100
Detective Comics #622
$150
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
$150.00
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
$250.00
Polly Pocket
$150.00
Pound Puppies
$75.00
Micro Machines
$300.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Super Mario World
$579.99
Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI in Japan)
$200.00
Mega Man 3
$200.00
The Secret of Monkey Island
$300.00
Dr. Mario
$254.95
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1990 Topps Frank Thomas No Name on Front
$250,000
1990 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #156
$25,000
1990 Fleer Jose Uribe #74
$50
1990 Leaf Frank Thomas #300
$8,000
1990 O-Pee-Chee Premier Jaromir Jagr #50
$1,200