Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 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 October 2, 1990
Full News Archive
- Headline: Stavropoulos: Chiffon Fashion Evolution. Impact: Little did they know that Yveta's embrace of reds and greens would inspire a fashion revolution, leading to the 2000s trend of neon everything, including the infamous 'screaming' hair colors. Thanks, Yveta, for the eye pain!. Fact: Did you know that if you wore more than one color at a time in the 80s, people might have questioned your sanity? Clearly, Yveta was a trendsetter before trendsetting was even a thing!.
- Headline: Budget Pact Viewed as Mixed for Business. Impact: This budget agreement was like the first domino in a chain reaction of tax debates that eventually led to the rise of countless memes about rich people complaining about paying taxes. Thanks, Bush! You really kicked off the comedy goldmine!. Fact: Fun fact: The Business Roundtable has been around longer than most of your favorite sitcoms, and yet somehow, their jokes about 'necessary' taxes are still less funny than a sitcom from the 90s!.
- Headline: Bush Administration's Budget Agreement Review. Impact: Fuel efficiency regulations from this agreement paved the way for the Prius craze, which in turn caused millions of dads to suddenly become eco-warriors, complete with 'Save the Earth' bumper stickers and questionable driving habits.. Fact: Did you know that before fuel efficiency became a buzzword, cars were basically just gas-guzzling monsters? It's like going from a T-Rex to a cute little hamster on wheels!.
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