Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 2001
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Portable Music Player (iPod)
2 
Wi-Fi Public Hotspots
3 
Online Encyclopedia (Wikipedia)
4 
3G Mobile Networks
5 
Cloud Computing Concept
6 
Digital Video Compression (H.264)
7 
Online Photo Sharing
8 
Instant Messaging Platforms
9 
Tablet Computer Concept
10 
Satellite Broadband Internet
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON December 7, 2001
Full News Archive
- Headline: Middletown Teachers' Strike Escalates Tensions. Impact: The Middletown teachers' strike led to a surge in parents forming secret societies to protect their own interests, eventually evolving into the infamous 'Parents for Picketing' organization, which ironically became a parenting support group that still meets weekly to complain about everything from school lunches to bedtime stories.. Fact: Did you know that the first teachers' strike in 1978 involved less drama and more cookies? Now, it's all death threats and barbs—who knew education could be so spicy?.
- Headline: Remembering Sir Peter Blake's Sailing Legacy. Impact: Peter Blake's tragic end caused an unexpected boom in the pirate-themed merchandise industry. Little did he know, his legacy would inspire a worldwide trend of dressing like pirates every 'Talk Like a Pirate Day'—thus forever ruining the good name of seafaring adventurers.. Fact: Did you know that Peter Blake was once voted 'Most Likely to Be Attacked by Pirates'? Yeah, that was a real award, or at least it should have been..
- Headline: Negotiations for Taliban Surrender in Kandahar. Impact: The Taliban's decision to surrender their stronghold paved the way for an unexpected reality TV show, 'Survivor: Kandahar,' where contestants must navigate the treacherous waters of political negotiation while avoiding actual danger. Spoiler: it didn't go well.. Fact: Did you know that the last stronghold of the Taliban became the first and only place where people could actually negotiate their way out of a bad reality show? Talk about low stakes!.
- Headline: AOL's Problems Go Beyond Even Harry Potter's Magic. Impact: AOL’s struggles led to a mass exodus of employees who thought they were joining a tech revolution but ended up just creating endless GIFs of cats. The ripple effect? We now have a global obsession with cat videos instead of a functioning internet service.. Fact: Did you know that AOL's greatest achievement was teaching millions how to use the phrase 'You've got mail' to avoid social interactions? Thanks, AOL!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2001, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #3
AAPL
Apple
Price in 2001
$0.22
2025 dataset value
$1,220,264
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 2001, it would be worth $1,220,264 today (1220.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Amazing Spider-Man #36
$200
Ultimate Spider-Man #1
$50
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again #1
$50
Y: The Last Man #1
$150
American Gods #1
$25
🧸 Top 5 Toys
LEGO BIONICLE
$150.00
Nintendo Game Boy Advance
$540.00
Harry Potter Movie Merchandise (Action Figures)
$120.00
Bratz Dolls
$150.00
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
$100.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Halo: Combat Evolved
$100.00
Grand Theft Auto III
$200.00
Super Smash Bros. Melee
$74.00
Final Fantasy X
$200.00
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
$25.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon - 1st Edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon
$10,000
2001 Topps Chrome Traded #T247 Ichiro Suzuki Rookie Card
$471
2001 Upper Deck Tiger Woods #1 Rookie Card
$25,100
2001 Pokémon Neo Revelation 1st Edition Holo Houndoom #8
$1,200
2001 SP Authentic Michael Jordan #MM1 Auto Jersey
$40,000