photofun 4 u com

The Strange Death of James Price

In the world of grand promises and bold claims, the line between confidence and deception can blur all too easily. What begins as ambition can quickly spiral into illusion, and the pressure to maintain appearances grows heavier with every passing moment. In 1783, James Price, a chemist and self-proclaimed alchemist, found himself in such a predicament. Trapped in a web of his own making, he chose a tragic end over the humiliation of exposure.

James Price was born James Higginbotham in London in 1752. As a young man, he changed his surname to Price in accordance with the wishes of a deceased relative who had left him a significant inheritance. Little is known about his early education, but he went on to study at Oxford University, where he excelled academically. By the age of 25, he had earned a Master of Arts degree, and in 1778, he was awarded a Doctor of Medicine, largely in recognition of his contributions to chemistry. Just three years later, in 1781, he was elected a member of the prestigious Royal Society.

“The Alchemist Discovering Phosphorus” by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797)

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada January 07, 2025 Komentar

William Buckley’s Extraordinary Survival in The Australian Wilderness

Travel

The story of William Buckley—an English convict whose daring escape from a penal colony and subsequent life in the uncharted Australian wilderness—is one of extraordinary survival and adaptability. In 1803, Buckley fled captivity near modern-day Melbourne and vanished into the bush, and was presumed dead. Yet, against all odds, he not only survived but thrived for more than three decades, living among the Wathaurong people and becoming a figure of legend. His story offers a remarkable glimpse into both the challenges of exile and the richness of Indigenous Australian culture.

William Buckley's transportation and escape as depicted by 19th century Aboriginal artist Tommy McRae

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada December 23, 2024 Komentar

Henry Every And The Looting of Ganj-i-Sawai

Travel

Henry Every was one of the most successful pirates to ever operate in the Atlantic and Indian oceans during the Golden Age of Piracy. Though he never reached the notoriety of figures like Blackbeard or Captain Kidd, Every’s brief but lucrative career likely served as inspiration for many aspiring buccaneers. Over a mere two years, his crew seized around a dozen ships, amassing wealth estimated in the tens of millions. His crowning achievement was the plunder of the Mughal fleet, hailed by historians as “the richest prize ever taken by a pirate.” Unlike many of his infamous counterparts, Every managed to do it all without getting captured or killed.

An 18th-century depiction of Henry Every, with the Fancy shown Capturing the Grand Mughal Fleet.

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada December 07, 2024 Komentar

The Submarine That Gave Its Crew A Mysterious Sickness

Travel

In 1863, German-American inventor and engineer Julius Hermann Kroehl founded the Pacific Pearl Company with the goal of profiting from pearl fishing in the Pacific. To streamline this labour-intensive process, he began constructing a submarine specifically designed to aid in oyster collection.

Traditionally, pearl diving relied entirely on human divers operating without breathing equipment. These divers descended to depths of 20 to 40 feet, gathering as many oyster shells as possible before surfacing—often holding their breath for up to a minute. Work typically occurred during low tide, which allowed access to deeper parts of the seabed. However, the diving window was short, lasting only two to three hours. Within this limited timeframe, divers made an exhausting 12 to 15 trips to the seabed. The pursuit of pearls and shells was not only gruelling but also perilous. Recognizing the risks and inefficiencies of this method, Kroehl sought to revolutionize the process, sparing his divers from unnecessary danger while improving yields.

A member of the Kuwaiti diving team searches for pearls during the annual Pearl Diving festival in Kuwait, in 2012. Photo credit: Raed Qutena

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology Pada November 25, 2024 Komentar

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

Travel

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.

Click Here to read more Amusing Planet

Chandu Numerology 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.