Science

26 Photos Capturing Bizarre Moments In Science Throughout History

Mick Jacobs
Updated March 1, 2025 109.2K views 26 items
Ranked By
7.7K votes
1.3K voters
Voting Rules
Vote up the photos that are as mind-blowing as the facts behind them.

When absorbing it through a textbook, history can be a bit dry. Sometimes a little visual kick makes all the difference, bringing historical elements to life that would otherwise be constrained to text. The photos here commemorate a wide rang of historic moments, from space exploration to the excavation of ancient artifacts with huge significance. Scrolling past each one, you not only learn some fun new facts, you also get the chance to see them in action. 

  • 1

    1896: The First X-Ray

    1896: The First X-Ray
    419 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 2

    1962: A Pilot Ejects Himself From A Prototype

    1962: A Pilot Ejects Himself From A Prototype
    407 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 3

    1956: An Animal Being Used In Therapy

    1956: An Animal Being Used In Therapy
    444 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 4

    1948: Boy Watches TV For The First Time

    1948: Boy Watches TV For The First Time
    466 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 5

    1919: A Welder Using Prosthetics

    1919: A Welder Using Prosthetics
    456 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 6

    1928: Sir Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin

    1928: Sir Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin
    512 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 7

    1910: An Early Diving Suit

    1910: An Early Diving Suit
    382 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 8

    1964: Neil Armstrong And David Scott In Their Gemini 8 Capsule

    1964: Neil Armstrong And David Scott In Their Gemini 8 Capsule
    574 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 9

    1890: Phone Lines In Stockholm

    1890: Phone Lines In Stockholm
    335 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 10

    1913: Examining King Tut's Sarcophagus

    1913: Examining King Tut's Sarcophagus
    373 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 11

    1954: The Only Known Survivor Of A Meteor Strike

    1954: The Only Known Survivor Of A Meteor Strike
    316 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 12

    1963: Testing A Plane's Ejection Systems

    1963: Testing A Plane's Ejection Systems
    331 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 13

    1963: A Navigation Hotline

    1963: A Navigation Hotline
    • Photo:
    269 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 14

    Pre-1935: Acoustic Location, The Original Radar

    Pre-1935: Acoustic Location, The Original Radar
    276 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 15

    1781: William Herschel Discovers Uranus

    1781: William Herschel Discovers Uranus
    259 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 16

    1980: The Space Invaders Championships

    1980: The Space Invaders Championships
    279 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 17

    1969: Apollo 11 Astronauts In Mexico

    1969: Apollo 11 Astronauts In Mexico
    221 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 18

    "Alexander Graham Bell" Is Not His Real Name

    "Alexander Graham Bell" Is Not His Real Name
    213 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 19

    1950: Children In The Iron Lung

    1950: Children In The Iron Lung
    269 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 20

    1967: Canada's Official Landing Welcome Site

    1967: Canada's Official Landing Welcome Site
    214 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 21

    1939: A Lie Detector For Kissing

    1939: A Lie Detector For Kissing
    • Photo:
    227 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 22

    1967: The Remains Of A Cosmonaut Who Fell From Space

    1967: The Remains Of A Cosmonaut Who Fell From Space
    323 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 23

    1982: Time Magazine Awards "Person Of The Year" To A Computer

    1982: Time Magazine Awards "Person Of The Year" To A Computer
    210 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 24

    1970: A Leak From An Atomic Test

    1970: A Leak From An Atomic Test
    219 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 25

    1975: Thomas Harvey Reveals Einstein's Brain

    1975: Thomas Harvey Reveals Einstein's Brain
    229 votes
    Is this cool?
  • 26

    1862: Electric Shocks Administered In An Experiment

    1862: Electric Shocks Administered In An Experiment
    217 votes
    Is this cool?