The 1980s were a time of tremendous growth and prosperity. The Cold War ended. The human population on earth was the largest it had ever been. Computers and video games became readily available. Cable television brought a diversity of entertainment to the American household. Severe social, economic, and military pressures forced the Soviet Union to abandon its longstanding political doctrine. Although the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded and the worst nuclear power accident in history occurred in Chernobyl, the 1980s were a decade filled with wild style and economic stability, ushering in a new wave of hope for the future.