Two huge earthquakes rock Mexico City. Cellular telephones show up in cars. Crack cocaine makes its first appearance. And New Coke is introduced in grocery stores and vending machines. Nintendo's home entertainment system creates a boom in home video gaming.
Leaded gas is banned in the United States.
And Rock Hudson becomes the first major public figure to die of AIDS on Oct. 2. In April, a nuclear accident at Chernobyl, Ukraine, creates fear worldwide as radiation clouds circle the globe. It's the worst nuclear accident in history and it convinces many that nuclear energy is not safe. The United States bombs Libya. The Iran-Contra scandal is unveiled.