Scientific and technological progress is invariably accompanied by amazing new inventions that pass the test of time and human experience.
Unfortunately, not all inventors wait for the triumph of their "brainchild", as they die in the process of its development, improvement or testing. Yes, yes, sometimes the very fruit of human labor can lead to the death of its own author. Paradoxically, curiously, but a fact.
Today we will consider 10 unique cases when the creator perished at the hands of his creation. These researchers so believed in the Idea and Work of a lifetime that they were not afraid to take risks, looked into the eyes of danger and negative consequences. And now their inventions are for the benefit of mankind, and you and I must know our heroes.
10. Franz Reichelt and Cloak
An ordinary tailor dreamed of overcoming gravity at all costs. Attempts were unsuccessful and traumatic, because once he even fell from the 5th floor. Franz decided that the experiments were ineffective because the apartment was not far enough from the ground.
Attempts were made to jump from the Eiffel Tower, which only attracted the attention of local police. Despite the entreaties of relatives and friends, Reichelt still jumped with his invention with a parachute cloak. Unfortunately, the latter did not open, and the man died in an unequal battle with gravity.
9. William Bullock and the printing press
Nothing boded ill when a talented craftsman Will designed in the 19th century a tape machine that cuts wooden tiles. The craftsman continued to amaze, further inventing a cotton press, a seeder, a seed planting device, and a miniature milling machine.
Bullock also planned to improve the printing press - he began to turn over sheets of paper on his own, which greatly accelerated and facilitated the printing process.
Somehow, as a result of an unfortunate mistake, William was injured - his leg got into the machine mechanism and was fragmented there. It's a shame that over time, a talented man died from gangrene against the background of an injury.
8. Jimmy Heselden and Segway
The oligarch Heselden founded the company Segway Inc, which increased his income to 340 million. Once, 9 years ago, an elderly Jim decided to take a walk through a rocky area in England in his own Segway.
And at noon, medical officers discovered his body in the local river Wharf. It turned out that the man was driving along a path that was 24 meters above the level of the river, lost control of the equipment and fell into the water.
7. Thomas Andrews and the Titanic
The scientific facts of the Titanic are few people know. For example, it became known that as early as 2:10 on the ill-fated day of 1912, the inventor of the Titanic was seen in the first-class compartment. He stood near the smoking room and contemplated a picture on the wall. In just 10 minutes, the “unsinkable” ship completely went under water, taking with it the chief engineer.
6. Wang Hu and rockets
We consider Wang Hu to be the first astronaut on the planet. The data on him are inaccurate: he lived in China in about the 16th century (the time of the Ming Dynasty). At that time, the empire flourished with the latest technology in the field of gunpowder and pyrotechnics.
Wang himself thought about traveling to a satellite of the Earth in a very non-standard way: his servants had to attach almost 50 rockets to a chair, which would deliver the researcher to his destination. Unfortunately, as a result of an ill-conceived experiment, Hu did not survive.
5. Thomas Midgley and a device for lifting bed patients
Midgley distinguished himself by several inventions that cause controversy among his followers. For example, an additive in gasoline that pollutes nature - this was clearly not the most popular solution. And, despite the toxicity of the substance, another invention was destroyed by the researcher.
Once sick with polio, Tom designed an apparatus of blocks and ropes that would help bed patients to climb. In an attempt to rise with the help of his invention, Midgley simply choked on ropes.
4. Jim Fix and jogging
Even sober thoughts and a healthy lifestyle can be destructive, as it is not inconsistent. Fix, a famous American fitness trainer, has published a bestseller on how to use jogging properly and properly.
Many Americans were inspired by the idea and began to go out for a morning run. During one of those, Jim himself suffered a heart attack - nevertheless, at age 52, many parameters must be taken into account, and not just a great desire to learn new running techniques. You will not outwit death.
3. Max Valle and the jet car
The Austrian scientist Valier showed unprecedented results in the field of jet engine research. In the 20s of the last century, he himself invented a rocket engine rocket, the design and development of which was sponsored by the Opel concern. During one of the races on his "brainchild" Max died tragically.
2. Marie Curie and X-ray
The famous woman scientist, who received the Nobel Prize for achievements in the field of radioactive radiation, died precisely because of the unhealthy conditions of her work. As it turned out, Maria for a long time kept with her a container of radium, and even participated in conducting x-ray procedures.
So, in 1934, the defeat of her bone marrow began, as a result of which the outstanding woman died. Even now, before picking up Curie's personal items, you must wear a protective suit.
1. Valerian Abakovsky and air car
The young, active and ambitious scientist Abakovsky really wanted to leave something useful to humanity. He sincerely believed that his innovative aircar would improve the quality and speed of rail transport.
In the ill-fated 1921, during a trip to Moscow in an air car, 5 passengers and the author of the invention died.
These are the sad stories of scientists who could not control their own inventions. As they say, one cannot hide from the hands of fate. But to this day we are grateful to the contribution of dedicated minds to the development of scientific and technological progress.