Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 1990
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
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
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON September 10, 1990
Full News Archive
- Headline: Pete Sampras: Crafting the Perfect Serve. Impact: If Pete Sampras hadn't spent hours studying Rod Laver, we might never have known the thrill of watching a serve faster than a speeding bullet. One can only imagine how many tennis players were inspired to give up their dreams and start knitting instead.. Fact: Did you know that Rod Laver is so legendary that even time machines have a 'No Rod Laver' policy? Apparently, they can't handle that level of greatness..
- Headline: Exploring Washington's San Juan Islands by Bike. Impact: This eight-day bike tour likely sparked an explosion of bicycle-related injuries and a surge in pancake demand, leading to an unforeseen pancake shortage in the Pacific Northwest. You could say it was a 'stack' of unfortunate events.. Fact: Did you know that the average person burns about 40 calories per hour while biking? But if you add pancakes into the mix, you might just be gaining more than you burn!.
- Headline: Mountain Biking Revolutionizes Outdoor Sports. Impact: Ten years of mountain biking evolution led to the birth of the extreme sports Instagram influencer. Without those garage-shop torch bearers, we may have been spared thousands of photos of people posing dramatically on their bikes at the edge of cliffs.. Fact: Did you know that mountain biking was once considered an extreme sport? Now, it’s just a way for people to justify their $5,000 bikes while avoiding actual exercise..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1990, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
MSFT
Microsoft
Price in 1990
$0.38
2025 dataset value
$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
2025 dataset value
$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