Author Archives: admin

First stigmatic priest

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
Stigmata are bleeding wounds that appear spontaneously and inexplicably in a person´s hands (sometimes also in their feet and side), and which correspond to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus. The first stigmatic priest in the history of the Roman Catholic Church was Padre Pio (1887-1968), who spent much of his priesthood as a Capuchin priest at Our Lady of Grace Friary in San Giovanni Rotondo, near Foggia, Italy. He gained the five classic stigmata on Friday 20 September 1918, which he retained for the rest Continue reading →

First stealth game to feature collective Artificial Intelligence

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
Metal Gear Solid 2 was the first stealth game to feature guards who could operate as a team and even communicate with other guards off-screen to organize a counter-attack. Disabling them before they could call for help was a major part of the gameplay, and this level of Artificial Intelligence has since become integral to the stealth sub-genre as a whole. GWR Video Gamer’s Edition 2008, title: First collective AI in a stealth game.

First submarine to be sunk by another submerged submarine

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
On 9 February 1945, towards the end of World War II, HMS Venturer, a British ‘V’-class submarine, made history by sinking a German submarine (U864) while both were submerged in the North Sea west of Bergen, Norway. Venturer acquired the German submarine on her Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee (ASDIC, now known as sonar), which was being used in passive mode, and tracked it for one hour and then, having ascertained the course and speed of the target, she launched 4 torpedoes. The German submarine sank Continue reading →

First submarine car

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
The Swiss company Rinspeed has created the world’s first, real, submersible car called the “sQuaba”. Displayed at the Geneva Motor Show 6-16 March 2008, the carsub is powered electrically by three rechargeable lithium-ion batteries: one for power on land and one for each of the twin propellers when on or in the water. In addition, two powerful Seabob jet drives in the front, assist manoeuvrability. The car design is based on the British Lotus Elise sports car and is open top for safety reasons, so Continue reading →

First successful full-face replant (self-donor)

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
In 1994, the world’s first full-face replant operation was perfomed by Dr Abraham Thomas, one of India’s leading microsurgeons, on nine-year old Sandeep Kaur (India), who had her face and scalp ripped off when one of her pigtails got caught in a threshing machine whilst on her family’s farm in Chak Khurd, northern India. Sandeep’s mother, Harpal, put the face into a plastic bag, and then took her to Christian Medical College hospital – a drive of over three hours. Dr Thomas was on duty Continue reading →

First successful craniopagus separation

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
Vilija and Vatalija Tamulevicius (Lithuania) (b.30 July 1987), were born sharing a skull and the vasculiture of the brain – a caniopagus connection. Dr. Alexander Konovalov (Russia), separated the girls on 6 July 1989, but their bodies rejected the artificial skulls and so the girls were taken to Texas, Dallas, USA, where Dr. Kenneth E. Salyer (USA), rebuilt their skulls . Previous to this, every head separation had resulted in either brain damage or death to at least one of the twins – the sisters Continue reading →

First successful artificial eye

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
It was announced on 17 January 2000 that a patient named Jeremiah Teehan (USA), who lost his sight due to a blow to his head 36 years previously, could see again thanks to an artifical eye developed by William Dobelle (USA). Jeremiah became the second person to have received surgery of this kind, although the first to have had successful results. Dobelle, chairman of the Dobelle Institute, New York, USA, has developed a pair of spectacles attached to a minature camera and an ultrasonic rangefinder. Continue reading →

First successful test of a high-powered microwave weapon

2 October 2014 by admin
No comments
The earliest recorded successful testing on of a high-powered microwave (HPM) weapon on electronic equipment occurred in April 1999 under the observation of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center of San Antonio, Texas, USA. HPMs discharge a powerful energy pulse that destroys any electronics within its 300-m (984-ft) range, the aim being maximum disruption to any military or civilian power and electrical systems. The ‘e-bomb’ is still under development, as some of the unintended side-effects include the distruption of hospital equipment, pace-makers and any Continue reading →