1980s in science and technology

1970s.1980s in science and technology.1990s

Other topics:Anthropology.Comics.Fashion.music.Sociology.Video games

This article is a summary of the1980s in science and technology.

Astronomy

• TheRings of Neptunewere first discovered in 1984. TheVoyager 2spacecraft provided images of them in 1989.
• 4769 Castaliawas discovered in 1989. It became the firstasteroidto be viewed throughradar imaging.
• The firstexoplanetis discovered in 1988, though it was not confirmed until much later.

Genetic engineering and biology

Main article:Genetic engineering timeline

• 1983
  • Kary Mullisrevolutionized molecular biology with his invention of thepolymerase 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 agestational surrogacyis born. This is the first time in history that a child has been born to somebody who is not their biological mother.
• 1989
  • May 22 – The first gene transfer experiment in humans takes place, leading to full-fledgedgene therapytrials by September 1990.
  • The gene responsible for thecystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulatorwas discovered. Mutations of the gene are considered causes ofcystic fibrosis.
  • Thekākāpō,a bird species ofNew Zealand,was termed athreatened species.TheDepartment of Conservationstarted anendangered species recovery planfor the kākāpō in 1989.
  • TheK-T extinction event,when dinosaurs became extinct, was shown to be linked to excessiridiumin the boundary layer, which implied that the cause was a massive meteor strike.

Computer science and networking

See also:Timeline of computing 1980–89

• 1980
  • Development ofENQUIREandMS-DOSbegin.
• 1981
  • MS-DOSdebuts.
• 1982
  • The firstcompact discsare sold, which would eventually replace theaudiocassettein the 1990s.
• 1983
  • Computer "virus"terminology introduced byFred Cohen.
  • Lotus 1-2-3spreadsheet software launched.
• 1984
  • TheApple Macintoshis released.
  • FidoNetbegins.
• 1985
  • The firstdomain namesare registered on the Internet.
  • Windows 1.0debuts.
• 1986
  • TheTCP/IP-basedNSFNET,the forerunner to theInternet,begins construction.
• 1987
  • The first popularhypermediasoftware,HyperCardis released by Apple.
• 1988
  • While working on networking computers atCERN,Tim Berners-Leebegins to discuss the possibility of a hyperlinked information system with his colleagues, an idea he was allowed to implement in 1990 when he created theWorld Wide Web.
  • Adobe Photoshopgraphics editing software debuts, revolutionizing photography and thefashion industry.
  • November 2 –Robert Tappan Morriscreated theMorris worm,considered the first notablecomputer wormto be distributed via theInternet.The worm was launched from theMassachusetts Institute of Technologyand caused considerable damage. In 1989, its creator became the first person indicted under theComputer Fraud and Abuse Act.
  • December – Europe obtains its first permanent connection to the Internet, by satellite betweenPrinceton UniversityandStockholm, Sweden.
• 1989
  • Lotus Notessoftware launched.
  • June/July –MCI MailandCompuServegateway 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.
  • The first commercialInternet service providersemerge, with The World STD being the first dial-up Internet service in November.

See also

• History of science and technology
• List of science and technology articles by continent
• List of years in science