Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 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 August 3, 2003
Full News Archive
- Headline: High Mutual Fund Fees Criticized. Impact: In a bizarre turn of events, the outrage over mutual fund fees led to the creation of a secret society of disgruntled investors who now meet in basements to discuss the merits of sock-stuffed savings accounts. Who knew a few bucks could spark a revolution of thrift?. Fact: Did you know that the average American spends more on coffee in a year than they save on mutual fund fees? Cheers to poor financial decisions!.
- Headline: The Nation; Striving for A Gentle Farewell. Impact: The poignant story of one woman's quiet passing sparked a nationwide movement to redefine what it means to have a 'gentle farewell', leading to the invention of the world's first 'Goodbye Party Planner'. Funerals just became a lot more festive.. Fact: Did you know that some cultures celebrate death with parties? Good luck explaining that to Grandma when she asks why you’re throwing her a birthday bash..
- Headline: If You Pitch It, They Will Eat. Impact: The escalation of fast food marketing to children resulted in a bizarre time loop where kids began negotiating with their parents for burger-themed birthday parties, which eventually led to the creation of a global 'Kids' Food Lobby'.. Fact: Here's a shocking fact: the average child can recognize fast food logos before they can read. Welcome to the future of nutrition!.
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