Inventions & Breakthroughs of July 2003
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Social Media Platform (MySpace)
2 
Voice Search Technology
3 
Electric Hybrid Vehicle (Prius)
4 
Online Video Streaming Platform
5 
3D Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
6 
Wi-Fi Home Routers
7 
Open-Source Web Browser (Firefox)
8 
Digital Rights Management Systems
9 
Medical Electronic Health Records
10 
Spam Filtering Algorithms
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON July 2, 2003
Full News Archive
- Headline: Unearthing History in Harlem. Impact: Al Zabroski’s skull discovery inadvertently inspired a new wave of ghost tours in Harlem, which escalated into a full-blown paranormal reality TV craze. Who knew a hard hat could unlock the afterlife's marketing potential?. Fact: Did you know that skulls are often mistaken for modern art pieces? One man's excavation can be another's avant-garde installation..
- Headline: Brazil's Trade Surplus Declines in June. Impact: Brazil's slipping trade surplus led to a nationwide panic over guacamole prices, which triggered a bizarre avocado black market that would later be the source of several soap operas. Because when the economy dips, someone has to make a dramatic exit!. Fact: Did you know that Brazil is home to the largest coffee producer in the world? Guess they were too busy brewing to care about trading..
- Headline: Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blueberry. Impact: Amanda Hesser's love letter to blueberry pie not only revived the dessert's popularity but also inadvertently sparked a pie-eating competition boom that led to the creation of national pie day. Sweet victory or a slice of pie-induced chaos?. Fact: Did you know that blueberry pie is often considered the 'patriotic dessert'? Just ask any American who has ever tried to eat it without making a mess!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2003, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 2003
$0.22
2025 dataset value
$1,226,446
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 2003, it would be worth $1,226,446 today (1226.4x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Walking Dead #1
$75
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II #3
$50
Y: The Last Man #10
$80
1602 #1
$30
Green Arrow #26
$150
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Beyblade: Metal Fusion
$300.00
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
$300.00
RoboSapien
$200.00
Bratz Dolls
$150.00
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 Series)
$200.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
$150.00
Call of Duty
$100.25
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
$609.50
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
$60.00
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
$80.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
LeBron James 2003-04 Topps Chrome Rookie Card #111
$250,000
2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection LeBron James Rookie Patch Auto #78
$2,400,000
2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractor Dwyane Wade Rookie Card #114
$1,504.99
2003-04 Upper Deck SP Authentic Carmelo Anthony Rookie Auto #148
$19,544
2003-04 Fleer Ultra Gold Medallion LeBron James Rookie Card #171
$800