Very few people know of Nikola Tesla.
He is not as well known as Einstein or Leonardo and definitely less famous than Stephen Hawking. I am even surprised to say that several assert he is less famous than his rival Thomas Edison.
The device you are reading this blog from was a direct result of his discoveries. His baby, the induction motor that interfaces with alternating current is a cornerstone of modern electrical systems. Mark Twain probably does it justice, by describing it as the 'most valuable patent since the telephone'.
The rivalry between George Westinghouse's support of AC and Edison's DC showed how correct Tesla was. Despite this, time has not been kind to Nikola.
Born in Croatia to Serbian parents, Tesla moved to New York in 1884. Some of his early work included radio controlled vehicles, wireless energy, and not to mention the first hydro-electric plant at the Niagara Falls. Despite this, he was often frowned upon due to his eccentricity, claims of alien contact, assertions linking celibacy to intelligence, and the fact that he was in love with a pigeon.
Recent history has shown that while Tesla is mostly forgotten, Edison was bathed in fame and fortune and is regarded as one of the greatest inventors of his time.
What many forget that while Edison's DC worked well for light bulbs, it could not transmit electricity for long distances. Westinghouse Corporation was a big fan of AC. By stepping the voltage up and down, it could be transmitted longer distances, with greater voltage and lower current. They had a problem with the motor, but Tesla solved that.
Eidson tried hard to portray this as dangerous - with public electrocutions of animals - and secretly funded the development of the electric chair to further elaborate his point. But this was not enough to deny what was clearly superior.
The UK's national grid - transmitting electricity at 400,000 volts - is a testament to Tesla's achievement.
In my opinion, Tesla was more of a thinker who cared more about concepts and ideas. Edison was the practical one, concerned with commercial potential and the trial and error method. But if Tesla was such a genius, why is he not remembered as well as Edison?
Take Sir Joseph Swann for example. He invented the light bulb in Newcastle around the same time as Edison, yet he did not get the credit. Why is that? Because in the society it is not enough to have ideas, one also has to be pragmatic. Engineer's had to know whether an idea was possible with the available technology. Tesla was a genius, without a doubt, but obsessively pursuing technology like wireless energy transfer at a time when it was clearly impossible does not give you credit. Edison was determined and forceful. He would pursue ideas that could be turned into products.
Einstein is remembered over Hendrik Lorentz. This is despite several scientists arguing that Einstein just completed several threads created by Lorentz.
Let's not forget that most of Tesla's achievements were intangible. This was unlike Edison's bulb, Ford's cars, or computing products from the likes of Gates and Jobs. Consumers could touch and see those. Tesla has the classic cult following - a unit of of the magnetic field, a crater on the moon, a power plant in Croatia, and a rock band named after him. 'Geeks' are his greatest worshippers.
He died penniless and mainstream recognition eludes him. But recently science historians have raised enough money to begin a museum to commemorate him. Hopefully, this will reignite some of the interest this great man deserves.
He is not as well known as Einstein or Leonardo and definitely less famous than Stephen Hawking. I am even surprised to say that several assert he is less famous than his rival Thomas Edison.
The device you are reading this blog from was a direct result of his discoveries. His baby, the induction motor that interfaces with alternating current is a cornerstone of modern electrical systems. Mark Twain probably does it justice, by describing it as the 'most valuable patent since the telephone'.
The rivalry between George Westinghouse's support of AC and Edison's DC showed how correct Tesla was. Despite this, time has not been kind to Nikola.
Born in Croatia to Serbian parents, Tesla moved to New York in 1884. Some of his early work included radio controlled vehicles, wireless energy, and not to mention the first hydro-electric plant at the Niagara Falls. Despite this, he was often frowned upon due to his eccentricity, claims of alien contact, assertions linking celibacy to intelligence, and the fact that he was in love with a pigeon.
Recent history has shown that while Tesla is mostly forgotten, Edison was bathed in fame and fortune and is regarded as one of the greatest inventors of his time.
What many forget that while Edison's DC worked well for light bulbs, it could not transmit electricity for long distances. Westinghouse Corporation was a big fan of AC. By stepping the voltage up and down, it could be transmitted longer distances, with greater voltage and lower current. They had a problem with the motor, but Tesla solved that.
Eidson tried hard to portray this as dangerous - with public electrocutions of animals - and secretly funded the development of the electric chair to further elaborate his point. But this was not enough to deny what was clearly superior.
The UK's national grid - transmitting electricity at 400,000 volts - is a testament to Tesla's achievement.
In my opinion, Tesla was more of a thinker who cared more about concepts and ideas. Edison was the practical one, concerned with commercial potential and the trial and error method. But if Tesla was such a genius, why is he not remembered as well as Edison?
Take Sir Joseph Swann for example. He invented the light bulb in Newcastle around the same time as Edison, yet he did not get the credit. Why is that? Because in the society it is not enough to have ideas, one also has to be pragmatic. Engineer's had to know whether an idea was possible with the available technology. Tesla was a genius, without a doubt, but obsessively pursuing technology like wireless energy transfer at a time when it was clearly impossible does not give you credit. Edison was determined and forceful. He would pursue ideas that could be turned into products.
Einstein is remembered over Hendrik Lorentz. This is despite several scientists arguing that Einstein just completed several threads created by Lorentz.
Let's not forget that most of Tesla's achievements were intangible. This was unlike Edison's bulb, Ford's cars, or computing products from the likes of Gates and Jobs. Consumers could touch and see those. Tesla has the classic cult following - a unit of of the magnetic field, a crater on the moon, a power plant in Croatia, and a rock band named after him. 'Geeks' are his greatest worshippers.
He died penniless and mainstream recognition eludes him. But recently science historians have raised enough money to begin a museum to commemorate him. Hopefully, this will reignite some of the interest this great man deserves.
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