Inventions & Breakthroughs of May 2010
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Tablet Computer (iPad)
2 
4G LTE Commercial Networks
3 
Cloud Infrastructure Scaling
4 
Electric Vehicle Mass Market (Nissan Leaf)
5 
Social Media Photo Sharing (Instagram)
6 
Smart TV Platforms
7 
Voice-Controlled Smart Assistants Concept
8 
Online Ride-Hailing Concept
9 
Medical 3D Imaging Software
10 
Digital Learning Platforms
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON May 13, 2010
Full News Archive
- Headline: Taiwan's Trade Concerns Amid Talks. Impact: If only Taiwan had known that the ripple effect of lower tariffs would lead to a global obsession with all things Chinese, including those tiny fortune cookies that are not even Chinese. Thanks, trade talks!. Fact: Did you know that fortune cookies were actually invented in California? Just goes to show that even trade talks can't predict the absurdity of American cuisine!.
- Headline: Distrust Impedes U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan. Impact: Distrust in Afghanistan meant that the U.S. had to rethink its entire strategy. Spoiler alert: It eventually led to a reality show about survival in hostile environments. Who knew distrust could be so entertaining?. Fact: Did you know that trust is actually a currency? Too bad it was always in short supply in Afghanistan!.
- Headline: U.A.W. Wants to Share in Big 3’s Financial Success. Impact: When the U.A.W. started flexing its muscles, it set off a chain reaction of union uprisings—leading to the most dramatic workplace negotiations since the invention of the coffee machine. The Big 3 never saw it coming!. Fact: Did you know that unions were originally formed because workers wanted to stop being treated like expendable parts? Shocking, I know!.
- Headline: In Job Market Shift, Some Workers Are Left Behind. Impact: As the job market shifted, those left behind became the inspiration for countless sad indie films. Who knew job loss could be such a rich source of dramatic storytelling?. Fact: Did you know that the unemployment rate is often depicted in movies to show just how dire the situation is? Because nothing says 'entertainment' like a good jobless montage!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2010, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
TSLA
Tesla
Price in 2010
$1.59
2025 dataset value
$303,497
Tesla - If you invested $1,000 in 2010, it would be worth $303,497 today (303.5x return)
Rank #2
NVDA
NVIDIA
Price in 2010
$0.42
2025 dataset value
$410,895
NVIDIA - If you invested $1,000 in 2010, it would be worth $410,895 today (410.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman and Robin #16
$300
The Walking Dead #78
$50
Morning Glories #1
$50
X-Men: Second Coming #1
$15
Thor #615
$1,200
🧸 Top 5 Toys
iPad
$90.00
Leapster Explorer
$75.00
Squinkies
$25.00
Sing-a-ma-jigs!
$75.00
Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS
$150.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Red Dead Redemption
$63.96
Mass Effect 2
$65.00
Super Mario Galaxy 2
$22.00
Call of Duty: Black Ops
$130.00
Limbo
Unknown
⚾ Notable Trading Cards
Stephen Strasburg 2010 Bowman Chrome Superfractor
$16,000
Mike Trout 2010 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph
$20,000
LeBron James & Kobe Bryant 2010 Panini National Treasures Dual Logoman
$250,000
Pikachu Illustrator 2010 Promo
$1,275,000