1980s: Cancer is a common and devastating disease for which there are treatments but no cure.

Today: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and there is still no cure for it, although scientists have learned a great deal more about how it functions, and treatments have become much more sophisticated.

1980s: Ronald Reagan, a Republican, is president for most of the decade. He is known for his communication skills, his tax cuts, and his reduction of funding to social services.

Today: George W. Bush, known for the war on Iraq as part of the war on terrorism and for fiscal and social conservatism, is president of the United States.

1980s: MTV, a new television station that plays music videos and defines popular music trends is popular with young adults.

Today: MTV is still influential, but it is no...