Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 1994
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
E-Commerce Platform
2 
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
3 
Search Engine (Yahoo)
4 
Digital Mobile Phone Expansion
5 
Web Advertising Banner
6 
Online Multiplayer Gaming
7 
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
8 
Internet Radio
9 
Voice over IP Concept
10 
Medical Telemedicine Systems
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON May 14, 1994
Full News Archive
- Headline: Judge Breyer: A Scholarly Supreme Court Influence. Impact: Had Breyer not been appointed, perhaps the Supreme Court would have been overrun by more 'entertaining' justices who believed in the power of interpretive dance as a legal argument. Imagine the rulings!. Fact: Breyer is known for his love of the law, but also for his questionable taste in bow ties. It's a real conundrum..
- Headline: Innovative Disability Insurance for Retirement. Impact: This insurance policy is like the financial equivalent of wearing a life jacket while swimming in a kiddie pool. Sure, it’s better to be safe than sorry, but let’s be real, you're still just splashing around.. Fact: Disability insurance can replace a portion of your income if you become injured or ill... so, you know, the standard adulting fun!.
- Headline: Diamond Deal Stirs Regret in Russia. Impact: The regret over the diamond deal may have led to a long-standing love-hate relationship with bling in Russia. Who knew that diamonds could spark such existential crises?. Fact: After this deal, Russians became very adept at crafting jewelry out of whatever they could find, which is how the art of 'Soviet Chic' was born..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1994, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #2
ORCL
Oracle
Price in 1994
$1.13
2025 dataset value
$159,565
Oracle - If you invested $1,000 in 1994, it would be worth $159,565 today (159.6x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Spawn #26
$29.00
The Sandman #57
$150
Preacher #1
$150
X-Men #30
$250
Bone #10
$1,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Power Rangers Action Figures
$150.00
Pogs
$50.00
LEGO Ice Planet 2002
$150.00
VR Troopers Toys
$50.00
Easy-Bake Oven (Reissue)
$75.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Donkey Kong Country
$180.00
Final Fantasy VI
$250.00
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
$39.50
System Shock
$100.00
Earthworm Jim
$150.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Michael Jordan #1 (Star '84 Tribute)
$75,000
Magic: The Gathering 'Winter Orb'
$300
Shaquille O'Neal #32 (USA Basketball)
$250,000
Ken Griffey Jr. 'Griffey' #72 (Topps Stadium Club)
$1,272
Jace, the Mind Sculptor
$500,000