Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 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 December 13, 2003
Full News Archive
- Headline: Devils vs Flyers Dramatic Tie. Impact: The Devils' failure to hold their lead inspired a motivational revolution in sports. Coaches started incorporating butterfly yoga into training, believing that a calm mind could prevent last-minute collapses. The results? A lot of confused players in downward dog positions.. Fact: Did you know that hockey games can be tied? It's like the sports version of saying, 'We both tried our best, let's just agree to disagree.'.
- Headline: What Remains of the Day; In Vinegar Hill, a Last Look at a Revolutionary War Grave Site. Impact: The lack of human bones found at the Revolutionary War grave site led to a nationwide panic over the whereabouts of long-lost soldiers. This sparked a movement where people began to dig up their backyards, hoping to discover hidden treasure or, at the very least, some questionable garden gnomes.. Fact: Did you know that Revolutionary War soldiers often wrote letters home? Imagine getting a letter from a soldier asking for a spatula because they were tired of flipping pancakes with a musket..
- Headline: Few Indications Efforts to Cut Blackout Risks Are Under Way. Impact: The government's inaction post-blackout resulted in a grassroots movement to create DIY blackout kits. This led to the invention of the 'Portable Candlelight Karaoke' system, which has since become a sensation at parties—because nothing says 'fun' like singing in the dark with questionable pitch.. Fact: Did you know that blackouts can bring people together? Nothing like a sudden darkness to turn strangers into flashlight-wielding friends desperate to find the nearest candle..
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