Featured moment
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
The shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.
Tragedy and triumph.
The Challenger disaster and Chernobyl shocked the globe, while Top Gun ruled the box office and Zelda began her legend.
The Cost of Living in 1986
Gallon of Gas
$1.13
Loaf of Bread
$0.59
Gallon of Milk
$2.32
World Population
4.96 billion
Featured moment
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
A reactor explosion in Ukraine caused the worst nuclear disaster in history, spreading radioactive fallout across Europe.
Featured moment
Top Gun Released
Tom Cruise felt the need for speed in this high-octane action film that dominated the box office and drove Navy recruitment.
The wider picture
More from 1986
A few more things worth remembering.
Gaming
The Legend of Zelda Released
Nintendo's adventure game pioneered open-world exploration and was the first console game with internal battery saving.
Cinema & TV
Oprah Winfrey Show Goes National
The daytime talk show entered national syndication, beginning Oprah's reign as a media mogul and cultural force.
Sports
Argentina Wins World Cup (Maradona's "Hand of God")
Diego Maradona led Argentina to victory, famously scoring both the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" against England.
Cinema & TV
Pixar Animation Studios Founded
Steve Jobs bought the computer graphics division from George Lucas, establishing the company that would revolutionize animation.
Science & Space
Halley's Comet Returns
The famous comet made its 76-year pass by Earth and was visited by an international fleet of spacecraft.
Pop Culture
Hands Across America
Nearly 6.5 million people held hands in a human chain across the US to raise money to fight hunger and homelessness.
You arrivedin 1986.
The longer view
This was only the opening scene.
Follow the world as it changed around you, from 1986 to today.