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 17, 1994
Full News Archive
- Headline: Portugal's Revolutionary Bond Market Reforms. Impact: By abolishing the withholding tax on bond coupon payments for nonresidents, Portugal inadvertently set off a chain reaction that led to an influx of hedge funds and eccentric billionaires deciding they were now bond aficionados. Who knew the path to financial ruin could be paved with tax breaks?. Fact: Did you know that in finance, 'Big Bang' is also the term used for when everyone loses their minds trying to understand derivatives? Just kidding, they never understood them in the first place..
- Headline: Emigres Join Guerrilla Warfare in Rwanda. Impact: Francois Rwagansana's decision to return home changed the course of his life and the lives of many others. His choice to swap safari hats for military gear created a ripple effect, leading to a generation of Rwandans becoming either guerrilla fighters or wildlife conservationists. Talk about a career change!. Fact: Did you know that many people believe adventure is only about safety? Francois clearly proved that the real adventure lies in dodging bullets instead of just lions..
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