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 25, 1990
Full News Archive
- Headline: Rohmer's Love, Games, and Deja Vu. Impact: If only this matchmaking film had been a hit in Hollywood, we might have avoided decades of romantic comedies that make you question your sanity. Imagine a world where 'Love Actually' never existed. We could have saved ourselves from those awkward family gatherings where everyone debates the merits of 'notting' in a 'hill.'. Fact: Did you know that Eric Rohmer's films are less about action and more about people talking about their feelings? Shocking, right? Who would have thought that a French film could be so... French?.
- Headline: Healthcare Costs Impacting Detroit's Auto Industry. Impact: The high costs of healthcare in Detroit didn’t just burden the auto industry; they sparked a revolution in how businesses view employee health. If only car manufacturers had focused on making people healthier instead of just making cars, we might have seen a rise in 'healthy vehicle' options—like cars that serve salads instead of exhaust.. Fact: Fun fact: The only thing heavier than Detroit's healthcare costs in the 80s was the weight of all the 'Made in America' labels that came with those cars. Talk about a burden!.
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