The world has been propelled forward by countless inventions, yet not all of them have been beneficial. Some inventions have even proven to be dangerous and harmful, leading to the loss of lives. This is why the act of inventing itself can be seen as a risky endeavor, not only for the inventors themselves but also due to the potential dangers associated with the inventions.
Today, we will discuss some notable cases of inventions that resulted in the demise of their creators.
- The “Flying Car” Henry Smolinski, originally a skilled engineer at Northrop Grumman Company, embarked on a new venture with a car company focused on the invention of flying cars. In 1973, they successfully created the first model of a flying car. The concept was simple: they connected the tail wing of a civil aircraft (Cessna 337) to a Ford car, creating a unique hybrid vehicle. On September 11, 1973, Henry Smolinski and another pilot named Harold Blake took flight in this “flying car.” Tragically, during takeoff, the wing and car parts became detached, leading to a fatal crash. Henry Smolinski lost his life in the very invention he had helped develop.
- The Controversial Inventor’s Demise Thomas Midgley Jr., an American mechanical engineer and chemist, was responsible for the invention of leaded gasoline and Freon. However, these inventions had severe repercussions on both the environment and human health, making Midgley a controversial figure.
At the time, major oil companies propagated the safety of lead to conceal the truth. In an attempt to prove the safety of leaded gasoline, Thomas Midgley Jr. intentionally spilled it on his hands during a press conference and even drank it from a leaded bottle for a full minute. Later reports revealed that he suffered lead poisoning from this act. While his death cannot be directly attributed to leaded gasoline, it is believed that his invention ultimately contributed to his demise. Midgley later contracted polio and spent the remainder of his life bedridden. To support his body, he developed a system of ropes and pulleys. Tragically, on November 2, 1944, he became entangled in the ropes, resulting in his death by suffocation.
- The Brutal Torture Device In 570 BC, Phalaris, a tyrant ruling over Sicily in ancient Greece, took pleasure in torturing prisoners. One day, a coppersmith named Perilos presented him with a macabre creation: a copper bull. This hollow statue had a small door on its belly, allowing the placement of a prisoner inside. The tyrant could then ignite a fire beneath the copper bull, effectively roasting the unfortunate captive alive.
What made this invention even more horrific was Perilos’ careful design of a copper tube system within the bull’s head. As the victim screamed in agony, their cries would travel through the tube, creating an eerie howling sound resembling the roar of a bull. The high-temperature gases produced during the torture would be expelled through the bull’s mouth, mimicking the image of a raging beast exhaling smoke.
Perilos demonstrated his invention to Phalaris, who showed great interest and decided to test its effectiveness firsthand. Perilos was placed inside the copper bull, and the fire was lit below. The realism of the copper bull’s sound and smoke effects proved chillingly effective. From that point on, Phalaris used this torturous method to kill numerous individuals, often reveling in the spectacle while enjoying banquets and gatherings.
These accounts serve as reminders that not all inventions bring positive outcomes. Some inventions have caused tragic ends for their creators or have been exploited for cruel purposes. They highlight the importance of responsible.