Images Dated 21st February 2011

1778 Benjamin Franklin scientist

Benjamin Franklin, scientist, inventor, and US Founding Father (January 17 1706 - April 17 1790). Steel engraving by J. Thompson 1834 with later colouring, after 1778 painting by Duplessis. Dubbed "the First American" he may thus also be considered the first American scientist. His studies of electricity earned him the Royal Society Copeley Medal in 1753 and in 1756 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. After an honorary doctorate from Oxford in 1762 he became "Doctor Franklin". He helped demonstrate the unity of electrical phenomenon, and the existence of positive and negative charge. His celebrated kite flying in storms was designed to show that lightning was electrical. Being struck would be lethal, so he only suggested collecting charge to show that it performed in the same way as laboratory electrical charge. Among his many inventions is the first lightning rod and bifocals

© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com.

Rail tracks and signals are pictured at Hamburgs main railway station

Rail tracks and signals are pictured at Hamburg's main railway station February 21, 2011. German train drivers union GDL called off a rail warning strike for Monday. GDL is demanding that Germany's 26,000 train drivers receive a unified pay level, as well as a five percent rise. REUTERS/Ina Fassbender (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS SOCIETY) - GM1E72L16P901

Dhobi Ghats of Mumbai (Bombay),where indians made the laundry. India

© Mauricio Abreu / AWL Images

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