🧠 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 November 21, 1990
Full News Archive
- Headline: Those Three Men and a Baby Reviewed Again. Impact: If you think about it, the original 'Three Men and a Baby' probably inspired countless men to reconsider their life choices, leading to a slight uptick in diaper sales and a generation of confused, single men who now think they can handle parenting. Thanks, Hollywood!. Fact: Did you know that the baby in the movie was actually played by three different babies? Talk about a casting call for the next generation of method actors..
- Headline: Exposing Secrets of Belfast Murders. Impact: The Belfast murders and their cover-up sparked a series of investigative documentaries, conspiracy theories, and a whole genre of true crime podcasts. So, thanks Northern Ireland, for giving us a reason to binge-listen while pretending to work.. Fact: It's fascinating how one event can inspire a thousand podcasts. If only the victims got royalties for every download..
- Headline: Explore 'The Quarry: Humans' Film Review. Impact: The futuristic monster with infrared vision might have inspired some tech companies to think they could create their own real-life 'monsters'—which, spoiler alert, they did. Just look at social media algorithms.. Fact: Fun fact: The real monsters are the friendships we lost along the way, all because of mindless scrolling. Thanks, technology!.
- Headline: BUSINESS PEOPLE; Engineer Is Selected For Top Post at Hercules. Impact: The appointment of Thomas L. Gossage at Hercules may have led to a corporate reshuffling that eventually resulted in the invention of a new type of chemical glue. This glue, ironically, is what holds together many failing companies today.. Fact: Did you know Hercules Inc. was not named after the Greek hero, but rather for its impressive ability to hold companies together like a cheap glue stick?.
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