publication date: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 (part of Spring 2013)

category: Aviation

clue: This German inventor of the hang glider died a few short years before his rivals in Kitty Hawk conquered the skies forever.

explanation: Lillienthal had a professional rivalry with Orville and Wilbur Wright. more…

solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Denise Sawicki, Matthew Preston, Joanna Woods, Mike Rothstein, Steve Dunn, and Scott Horowitz

Deadly Development: Science can be hazardous to your health! These five pioneers of technology and new ways of living were too clever by half, killed by the very inventions that they hoped would better the human race (or at least further their careers).

Similar Goos

Karel Soucek

This Czechoslovakian stuntman invented a way to survive Niagara Falls, but not a way to survive the Houston Astrodome. Go »

Horace Lawson Hunley

The Confederacy needed a strong navy to win the Civil War, but the ship created by this inventor failed to make a splash. Go »

Jimi Heselden

He was so impressed by the Segway that he decided to take the plunge and buy the company. Go »

Harry Houdini

The world's most famous escape artist couldn't cheat death forever after a failed demonstration. Go »

Otto Lilienthal

Many can claim that they were the first success story in flight, but this member of aviation royalty has the pictures to prove it. Go »

Bessie Coleman

High in the sky above France, she make history by living and dying at the controls of a plane. Go »