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Toyohiro Akiyama: Japan’s First Man in Space Was a Journalist

Toyohiro Akiyama pressed his face against the glass of the small, round window on his space module and gazed down at Earth from 350 kilometers above. He recognized the shape of Japan below him, a familiar sight transformed. From this height, the land appeared covered in a blanket of green, like moss, with Hokkaido standing out like a “delicious” mass of kelp.

Akiyama was soaring through the thin upper atmosphere aboard the Russian space station Mir. He was the first Japanese citizen in space. But Akiyama wasn’t an astronaut; he was a journalist for the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). Indeed, he was the first civilian ever to fly aboard a commercial space mission and the first journalist to report from outer space.

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photofun4ucom Pada November 18, 2024 Komentar

Famous Avian Couples

Travel

Birds have long fascinated us, not just for their grace in flight but for the connections they form with each other. Over time, some bird couples have captured our attention with their remarkable loyalty, resilience, and sometimes friendship. These avian duos—whether separated by great distances or bound by shared challenges—show us what dedication truly looks like. Here are some of their stories.

Klepetan and Malena

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photofun4ucom Pada November 07, 2024 Komentar

Henry Trigg And The Coffin in The Roof

Travel

For centuries, physicians and scientists have dissected human bodies to understand human anatomy, with a steady supply of cadavers often sourced from executions. In medieval times, numerous people were executed even for minor crimes, offering medical students and surgeons a reliable supply. But as justice methods softened and executions declined, medical schools began facing a severe cadaver shortage. This scarcity fuelled the rise of “resurrectionists” — grave robbers who dug up newly buried corpses to sell to anatomy schools.

In response, cemeteries adopted extreme measures: they hired guards, installed traps, and even encased graves in cages to thwart would-be body snatchers. Others temporarily housed bodies in “mort houses” until decomposition rendered them unusable to thieves.

One man, Henry Trigg, developed an unconventional method to protect his own body from theft.

grave-robbers-2

“Resurrectionists” (1847), by Hablot Knight Browne.

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photofun4ucom Pada November 01, 2024 Komentar

Enemies Making Deal: The First World War Glass–Rubber Exchange

Travel

In the midst of war, when nations are locked in bitter conflict, cooperation seems unimaginable. Yet, history offers surprising instances where enemies, driven by necessity, momentarily set aside their hostilities to strike a deal. Such was the case during World War I, when Britain and Germany—despite being locked in a devastating battle—engaged in an unlikely exchange of two very vital resources—glass and rubber.

The First World War was the first major conflict where optical equipment like binoculars and rangefinders became essential for targeting and artillery placement. Previous wars had been fought at closer range, and even artillery had limited reach. However, advancements in firepower and accuracy over the preceding half-century extended target ranges to several kilometres. To accurately strike at such distances, the new guns required sophisticated optical rangefinders, field glasses, and other precision instruments. Optical lenses were also vital for aerial cameras, periscopes, and telescopic rifle sights.

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photofun4ucom Pada October 24, 2024 Komentar

Santorio Santori And Insensible Perspiration

Travel

Some people become obsessed with tracking their weight, carefully counting every calorie they eat and burn through exercise. They even weigh themselves before and after every meal. In 17th century Italy, there was a man similarly fixated on measurement, though not out of vanity or a desire for the perfect physique. His motivation was purely scientific.

The human body loses significant amounts of heat and moisture through the pores in the skin. Water is also lost through breathing, as moisture-laden air is exhaled. This type of water loss is known as "insensible perspiration," which differs from regular sweating. While sweat contains solutes, insensible perspiration is the evaporation of pure water. It’s also invisible and undetectable, hence the term "insensible."

Photo credit: Amit Chowdhury

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photofun4ucom Pada October 18, 2024 Komentar

The Delft Tower Experiment

Travel

In 1654, twelve years after the death of the brilliant Italian astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei, Prince Leopold de' Medici, brother of the Tuscan grand duke and a key patron of Tuscan science, requested that Galileo's student, Vincenzo Viviani, write a biography of his late mentor. Viviani, who had assisted Galileo in his later years, responded to Prince Leopold with an account of Galileo's achievements, which he claimed to document "with historical integrity and complete honesty." This letter remained unpublished for over sixty years before finally being printed in 1717 as the book Racconto istorico della vita di Galileo Galilei (Historical Account of the Life of Galileo Galilei).