1980s in science and technology explained
This article is a summary of the 1980s in science and technology.
Astronomy
Genetic engineering and biology
See main article: Genetic engineering timeline.
- 1983
- Kary Mullis revolutionized molecular biology with his invention of the polymerase chain reaction, which required only a test tube, some reagents, a DNA template, and a source of heat.
- 1986
- April – The first child produced from a gestational surrogacy is born. This is the first time in history that a child has been born to somebody who is not their biological mother.
- 1989
Computer science and networking
See also: Timeline of computing 1980–89.
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- The first compact discs are sold, which would eventually replace the audiocassette in the 1990s.
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- The TCP/IP-based NSFNET, the forerunner to the Internet, begins construction.
- 1987
- 1988
- While working on networking computers at CERN, Tim Berners-Lee begins to discuss the possibility of a hyperlinked information system with his colleagues, an idea he was allowed to implement in 1990 when he created the World Wide Web.
- Adobe Photoshop graphics editing software debuts, revolutionizing photography and the fashion industry.
- November 2 – Robert Tappan Morris created the Morris worm, considered the first notable computer worm to be distributed via the Internet. The worm was launched from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and caused considerable damage. In 1989, its creator became the first person indicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
- December – Europe obtains its first permanent connection to the Internet, by satellite between Princeton University and Stockholm, Sweden.
- 1989
- Lotus Notes software launched.
- June/July – MCI Mail and CompuServe gateway their email systems to the Internet, instantly allowing hundreds of thousands of their users the ability to email people on the Internet for the first time. [3]
- The first commercial Internet service providers emerge, with The World STD being the first dial-up Internet service in November.
See also
References
Notes and References
- Web site: Brennan . Pat . The planet that wasn't there (Oh, wait, it was) . NASA . NASA . 25 June 2023.
- Book: Allen Kent and James G. Williams. Encyclopedia of Microcomputers . 1993 . Marcel Dekker . New York . 978-0-8247-2709-3.
- Book: Gary Schneider. Electronic Commerce. 2014. Cengage Learning. 978-1-305-17765-9. 63.