Nikola Tesla, Father of Radio by Sofia Hernandez P
Now-a-days when we hear the word Tesla, we often think about Tesla cars or Elon Musk. However, today we are not talking about any car. Unique name that Tesla is, have you ever thought about where the name “Tesla” originated from? None other than Tesla, the mad genius. His full name was Nikola Tesla. He was a Serbian engineer and scientist that created groundbreaking inventions that are still used to this day. Some of his well-known inventions include the Alternating Current (AC) electrical system, induction motor, and the Tesla Coil to name a few.
Let’s dive into some of Tesla’s discoveries! He was the hero of the Electricity Revolution and is often referred to as a mad genius. Tesla had a photographic memory because he could create his complex inventions without writing any notes. Now that is impressive! You might know Tesla as the Father of Radio; but his love of invention led him to hold 300 patents when he died in 1943. Making him the Father of 300 other inventions? Tesla was genius beyond his time.
Tesla was born on July 10, 1856, in Smiljan, Croatia. Tesla’s inventive gene was most likely passed on from his mother, Djuka Mandic. She invented small household appliances in her spare time during Tesla’s upbringing. Inventing was like an everyday chore in Tesla family. Proving how important the X chromosome is in making a genius!
Travelling was also a big part of Tesla’s life. His studies took him to Austria, Prague, and Budapest where he worked at the Central Telephone Exchange. He had always dreamed of sailing to the United States. It was letter of recommendation sent to Thomas Edison from fellow inventor, Charles Batchelor, that changed his life forever. In 1884, at the age of 28, Tesla’s long-awaited dream of going to the US became a reality thanks to that letter.
Now let’s talk some war, not between countries but between AC and DC currents. We have all been involved in a group project where someone else takes all the credit, well Thomas Edison did just that when Nikola Tesla came to work with him. Tesla worked alongside Edison at the Edison Machine Works in New York City. Thomas Edison had developed the Direct Current (DC) electrical system, a current that runs continually in a single direction. DC was the standard in the United States, but it could not be easily converted to higher or lower voltages. Tesla believed that an alternating current could be the solution to this problem. Being that Tesla was out of touch with the business side of inventions, he gave his patents to Edison, who promised to pay but never did. Edison did not want to lose his royalties to a newcomer, so he dismissed his idea and started a negative press campaign against AC. This left Tesla vulnerable and unappreciated which led him to part ways with Edison. Unfortunately, for Edison the AC became the predominant power system of the 20th century and has remained the worldwide standard to this day.
Fortune favored Tesla, after getting stiffed by Edison. His first solo venture was designing the first AC Hydroelectric Power Plant in the United States. George Westinghouse provided this opportunity to Tesla after hearing about his AC electrical system. Hard work and creativity always pays off!
In the late 19th century he created the Tesla coil which is still used in radio technology today and paved a pathway for wireless technologies. Generally, Guglielmo Marconi is called the inventor of the radio; however, Tesla had a patent for it before, making him the Father of Radio. Tesla also contributed to the development of x-rays, robotics, remote controls, electric motors, and the idea of free energy. Radio technology is still so relevant in our lives today! For example, Google Home, Alexa and various other Wi-Fi technologies were only possible due to the Tesla coil. How could we ever survive this pandemic without these technologies? Thanks to Tesla for his mad genius inventions!
Most geniuses have a troubled mental health; this was especially true for Tesla. In 1901 Tesla’s started his last venture known as the Wardenclyffe tower, a wireless telecommunications tower. J.P Morgan, a banker, funded the venture, which came to a halt when investors doubted Tesla could complete the project. This caused Tesla to declare bankruptcy by 1917 and the tower was torn down. After the Wardenclyffe debacle, he suffered from nervous breakdowns and as time went on his ideas became more outlandish and less credible. Tesla isolated himself and spent most of his days in his room, his only company being the pigeons that came to his window. He died of a coronary thrombosis on January 7, 1943 at the age of 86.
Tesla was often portrayed as a mad scientist, but I believe he was an undermined genius that was robbed of fame. Although Tesla’s genius was undermined during his lifetime his legacy lives on in all the electrical devices that you and me use every single day at home and at work.
Contributing Author:
Ms. Sofia Hernandez.
“Hello! I am a recent graduate from the University of North Texas with a BS in Environmental Science. I believe we must all be conscious about how our actions affect our surroundings. I plan to contribute to a better world by working in restoration and conservation in the near future.”
Editor:
Ms. Mona Chowhan Founder and Director Check My Universe, Social Media for Education
“Thank you Sofia for such a brilliant article. I loved every bit of it”- Mona
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