Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 2008
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Mobile App Marketplace (App Store)
2 
Blockchain Concept
3 
Android Operating System
4 
Cloud-Based Office Software
5 
HD Streaming Video
6 
Social Media Real-Time Feeds
7 
Electric Vehicle Roadster
8 
Location-Based Social Apps
9 
Digital Health Tracking Devices
10 
Online Code Repositories
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON August 20, 2008
Full News Archive
- Headline: Home Repairs Surge Amid Economic Pressures. Impact: As consumers focused on repairs rather than buying new homes, home improvement stores saw a boom, leading to a nationwide obsession with DIY projects. Fast forward, now everyone thinks they can be the next Chip Gaines.. Fact: Did you know that the average person spends more time watching DIY videos on YouTube than actually doing home repairs? Procrastination has never been so entertaining!.
- Headline: Bloomberg's Vision for Renewable Energy. Impact: Bloomberg’s ambitious windmill plan inadvertently sparked a trend where every urbanite suddenly became an expert in renewable energy, leading to countless awkward dinner conversations about wind versus solar.. Fact: Did you know that wind turbines can actually power a small village? Too bad they can’t fix the endless debate on whether pineapple belongs on pizza—still a mystery!.
- Headline: Obama’s Ads in Key States Go on Attack. Impact: The aggressive ad strategy not only impacted Obama’s campaign but also laid the groundwork for future political campaigns to resemble a WWE smackdown—where truth takes a backseat to dramatic flair.. Fact: Did you know that political ads were once a thing of the past? Now they’re the drama we didn’t ask for but can’t seem to escape, like reality TV but with less talent!.
- Headline: Some Investors Say U.S. Bailout of Housing Giants Is Inevitable. Impact: The looming bailout fears set off a chain reaction in which every investor suddenly believed they could predict the next market crash, leading to an influx of ‘expert’ opinions that cluttered social media feeds.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'bailout' could easily be substituted with 'I promise to clean up my mess' in a toddler's vocabulary? Guess some things never change!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2008, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #3
NFLX
Netflix
Price in 2008
$0.38
2025 dataset value
$249,715
Netflix - If you invested $1,000 in 2008, it would be worth $249,715 today (249.7x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Walking Dead #48
$200
Batman #676
$25
Thor #1
$1,500
Invincible Iron Man #1
$20,000
Final Crisis #1
$50
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
$50.00
LEGO Indiana Jones Set
$150.00
Elmo Live
$150.00
Nintendo Wii Fit
$50.00
Kung Fu Panda Plush Toys
$60.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Grand Theft Auto IV
$20.00
Fallout 3
$150.00
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
$27.50
Call of Duty: World at War
$200.00
Left 4 Dead
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
2008 Topps Chrome LeBron James Refractor
$30,000
2008 Topps Chrome Derrick Rose Refractor Rookie Card
$3500
2008 Pokémon TCG Diamond & Pearl Stormfront Charizard
$200
2008 Topps Steven Stamkos Rookie Card
$2,500
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter Clayton Kershaw Rookie Card
$300