Inventions & Breakthroughs of March 2009
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin)
2 
Mobile Voice Assistant
3 
Cloud Database Services
4 
4G LTE Networks
5 
Smartphone Camera Improvements
6 
Online Streaming Subscriptions
7 
Digital Navigation with Real-Time Traffic
8 
Virtual Reality Headset Prototype
9 
Social Media Mobile Apps
10 
Digital Payment Wallet
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON March 30, 2009
Full News Archive
- Headline: Mexico's Drug War: Internal and External Battles. Impact: This event set off a chain reaction leading to an international drug policy debate that turned into a Netflix documentary series. Who knew that a war against drugs could inspire binge-watching?. Fact: Mexico's drug war has been ongoing for so long that even the rotting corpses of old policies are probably asking for a ceasefire..
- Headline: Online Shows May Shift to Subscription Model. Impact: The shift to subscription-only content paved the way for the rise of streaming services, making it impossible to escape from paying for content—unless you want to engage in a full-time hobby of finding free trials.. Fact: Remember when you could watch shows for free? Yeah, that’s so 2005. Welcome to the era of 'pay to play!'.
- Headline: Revolutionizing DIY Magazine Publishing. Impact: The rise of DIY magazines created a culture of amateur publishers, leading to an explosion of zines that could rival a high school art project. Thanks to this, your local coffee shop now smells like burnt coffee and bad poetry.. Fact: Did you know that DIY stands for 'Do It Yourself'? Because if you didn't, you might be in the wrong century..
- Headline: The Steady Optimist Who Oversaw G.M.’s Decline. Impact: Rick Wagoner's tenure at GM became a cautionary tale, leading future CEOs to think twice about keeping their jobs amid decline. It's almost like they learned nothing from history—oh wait!. Fact: Rick Wagoner’s leadership was like a rollercoaster, except everyone forgot to buckle their seatbelts and the ride ended in a crash..
- Headline: Star Lobbyist Closes Shop Amid F.B.I. Inquiry. Impact: The closure of a lobbying firm during an FBI inquiry sparked a wave of panic among lobbyists, leading to an underground network of 'ghost' lobbyists operating in the shadows. Because who needs a professional reputation anyway?. Fact: Funny how lobbying is legal, but if you whisper 'bribery' in the wrong ear, suddenly you’re the villain in a bad action movie..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2009, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #3
NFLX
Netflix
Price in 2009
$0.43
2025 dataset value
$220,288
Netflix - If you invested $1,000 in 2009, it would be worth $220,288 today (220.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Detective Comics #854
$25
Batman and Robin #1
$42,000
Chew #1
$50
Captain America: Reborn #1
$25
The Walking Dead #60
$75
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Bakugan Battle Brawlers
$50.00
Zhu Zhu Pets
$50.00
Lego Games
$300.00
Beyblade: Metal Fusion
$150.00
Mindflex
$75.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
$55.00
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
$50.00
Assassin's Creed II
$40.00
Minecraft
$150.00
Batman: Arkham Asylum
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Mike Trout Autograph
$46,800
2009 Topps UFC Round 1 Brock Lesnar Autograph
$1,200
2009 Panini Crown Royale Tom Brady Autograph
$240,000
2009 Pokémon Platinum Arceus Holo
$1,500
2009 Topps Chrome Stephen Curry Rookie Card
$1,888.00