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Nikola TeslaNikola Tesla was a scientist and engineer whose inventions are largely responsible for our modern electric power infrastructure and paved the way for wireless communication technologies. Tesla devised a highly efficient induction motor, which utilized alternating current, or AC, electricity—where current switches direction multiple times per second. The invention made the transmission of electricity on large scales more efficient and cost-effective than direct current, or DC, technologies—where current doesn’t switch direction. During The Current War, Thomas Edison argued that AC was dangerous and DC, which he had heavily invested in, should be used instead. However, once the 1893 Chicago World's Fair was electrified by AC, the war was won by Tesla and George Westinghouse, who had purchased Tesla's patents for AC power generation, transmission, and application. Beyond pioneering the technology for the electric grid, Tesla patented the Tesla coil, a device that would serve as the foundation for wireless transmission technologies.Explore Nikola Tesla

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A quote by scientist Nikola Tesla"The scientific man does not aim at an immediate result ... His duty is to lay the foundation for those who are to come, and point the way." GoodReads In 1898, Nikola Tesla wowed a crowd by controlling a boat with no visible connectionSome onlookers thought it was a trick, such a a monkey being inside the boat, rather than mind control or some other metaphysical phenomenon. In reality, Tesla was pioneering radio waves, proving wireless control was possible. 1440 Nikola Tesla's original laboratory was recognized as a historical site in 2018Beginning in 1901, the Wardenclyffe Tower was built on Long Island, New York to transmit electrical power through Earth's atmosphere. The project was abandoned before becoming operational due to limited funding, and was demolished for scrap in 1917 to help pay off Tesla's debts. 1440 J.P. Morgan provided Nikola Tesla with funding for the Wardenclyffe TowerThe structure was part of a project to transmit electricity and communication signals wirelessly across the globe. Shortly after construction began, Guglielmo Marconi beat Tesla to the punch and transmitted a trans-Atlantic signal, preventing Tesla from getting additional funding to finish his project. Smithsonian No proof of Nikola Tesla developing a working 'death ray' existsHe described his "teleforce" weapon as generating beams of concentrated particles that could destroy targets from 250 miles away with unparalleled precision. Analysis of Tesla's papers on the subject by an expert after his death revealed the work to be mostly speculative. Science History Institute Nikola Tesla’s biggest dream was a worldwide network of wireless power transmissionHe built the Wardenclyffe lab and a massive prototype transmission tower to develop trans-Atlantic transmission, but it was never operational. The concept was based on incorrect assumptions about Earth's conductivity, but it inspired subsequent efforts for wireless systems. Verge Science Nikola Tesla embraced showmanship when promoting ideas ahead of their timeHe once electrified himself during a live demonstration to illustrate the safety and power of alternating current, and his presentations often featured arcing coils, glowing lights, and bold claims about a future of wireless power. BBC News Read about the nine depictions of Nikola Tesla in media through 2020Portrayals include comedic takes, like John C. Reilly's performance in Comedy Central's "Drunk History" series, and more serious interpretations, like Nicholas Hoult's performance in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s historical drama, "The Current War." TheWrap Despite promoting alternative current, Nikola Tesla did not invent itThe technology was developed by Hippolyte Pixii in 1832, almost 25 years before Tesla was born. Other myths about Tesla include that he invented the transformer, radio, and the induction coil, which was invented by Nicholas Callan in 1836. Interesting Engineering Guglielmo Marconi overshadowed Nikola Tesla through commercializationDespite Tesla envisioning wireless power and communication earlier, Marconi developed practical implementations of wireless communication, including transmitting the first transatlantic radio signal. The technology, which facilitated telegraphy critical for warships and navies, earned Marconi the 1909 Nobel Prize in physics. ScienceShot Nikola Tesla was born in modern-day Croatia and moved to the US in 1884His interest in electricity came from his mother, who invented small household appliances during Tesla's upbringing. Upon arriving in America, he began working for and improving upon the electrical inventions made in Thomas Edison's lab. Biography Explore a timeline of Tesla through 2025Initially called Tesla Motors, the company was renamed Tesla Inc. in February 2017. Its Model Y became the world's bestselling EV worldwide by the end of 2023, overtaking the Model 3's title from 2020. Officetimeline Niagara Falls helped decide the battle between AC and DC power In the 1890s, Niagara Falls became the proving ground for alternating current (AC) when Tesla and Westinghouse built the first large-scale AC hydroelectric plant—defeating Edison’s push for direct current (DC) in the US electrical system. HISTORY Niagara power helped electrify early New York CityTesla's AC system at Niagara Falls was so successful that electricity generated there lit up Broadway theaters and powered NYC’s subway system in the early 1900s. Big Think Tesla's alternating current power's most of the world's electric gridsIn 1879, Thomas Edison’s light bulb relied on direct current, but such currents can't efficiently transmit power over long distances. Nikola Tesla introduced alternating current, which feature far fewer energy loses. Despite Edison’s attempts to discredit AC, Tesla proved its efficiency by lighting the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. 1440 When Tesla died in 1943, the FBI seized his property for national securityAlthough Nikola Tesla had become increasingly eccentric in his later years, the US government wanted to ensure plans for a possible secret weapon didn’t fall into enemy hands during World War II. History.com Tesla's first successful AC prototype used a metal shoe polish tin for a rotorAfter leaving his position working with Thomas Edison, Tesla partnered with George Westinghouse to promote alternating current systems as a more viable, scalable solution to electricity transmission. BBC Sounds Tesla's lack of business savvy and inability to commercialize led to his obscurityFor decades, despite pioneering technologies for large-scale electrical systems and telecommunications, Nikola Tesla had been forgotten to history. Rather than monetizing his work and becoming more well known, his inventor-first mentality saw him sell off lucrative patents to fund new experiments in the short term. Smithsonian The world's first AC hydroelectric power plant incorporated Tesla's engineeringBuilt at Niagara Falls, New York, the plant alternating current electricity was hailed as the future of power generation. Tesla’s fascination with Niagara Falls is traced to his seeing a photo of the waterfalls when he was still a child. Science Channel Alternating current was used to commit the first execution by electric chairDubbed the "executioner's current," the device was designed in Thomas Edison's lab by Harold Brown—an opponent of George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla. The effort aimed at discrediting AC technology and gain favor for Thomas Edison's direct current as part of "The Current War." TIME George Westinghouse purchased Tesla's AC technology patents for $60,000 The seven patents in alternating current motors and power transmission formed the basis for a system of technologies including generators, transformers, and lighting. Nikola Tesla spent half the funds on a new laboratory to develop new inventions. PBS

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