Outpaced the Wright brothers by 900 years: what we know about the flying monk from the Benedictine monastery.

The historic flight of the Wright brothers in 1903 over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, which lasted 12 seconds, marked the first successful human flight in an airplane. However, people have long aspired to soar into the sky, with the first successful flight recorded as far back as 1783, when a hot air balloon ascended over Paris, writes IFLScience.

Many such experiments have been lost to history, while others, like the ambitious leap of an English monk from the 11th century, remain legends of the ingenuity and bravery of pioneers.

Ælmer of Malmesbury, a Benedictine monk from England, is credited with one of the earliest recorded flights between the years 1000 and 1010 AD. Historian Lynn White Jr. cites a 12th-century chronicle written by William of Malmesbury, which describes Ælmer's flight in connection with the appearance of Halley's Comet in April 1066.

William recounts Ælmer's reaction to the comet, noting his fearful prophecy of upheaval.

"The comet, a star heralding change," he wrote, quoting Ælmer's belief that the celestial body signaled terrible events.

According to William's account, Ælmer fashioned wings by attaching them to his arms and legs in hopes of flying.

"He was an educated man for his time," William notes, detailing how Ælmer prepared atop the abbey tower. When he took off, he flew a distance of one furlong—about 201 meters—before gravity ultimately prevailed.

While historical descriptions lack specifics regarding his equipment, references to "pennons," meaning feathers or wings, suggest that he used materials resembling bird wings. Historian White also speculates that Ælmer's wings were likely rigid and large, intended to mimic gliding.

Ælmer survived the flight, but not without consequences. Strong winds and his inexperience led to a crash, breaking both of his legs and leaving him with a permanent injury.

Reflecting on his failure, Ælmer attributed it to not having a "tail" for balance. Although his attempt ended in injury, his story resonates as one of the earliest recorded efforts to defy gravity, embodying humanity's enduring fascination with flight.

Ælmer's story faded from public memory over time. Today, his attempt serves as an intriguing prologue to modern aviation, reminding us of the risks faced by the early flight pioneers and their contributions to an idea that ultimately changed the course of human history.

We also shared the story of ghost coins from Japan, which were recently discovered by chance. They were supposed to be destroyed after World War II; however, miraculously, nearly half a million artifacts survived.