Nikola Tesla Science

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) immigrated from Serbia to the United States in 1884 and transformed electrical engineering through a cascade of inventions built primarily from 1888-1900. His most important invention — the alternating current (AC) induction motor (1888) — made the long-distance transmission of electrical power practical, enabling the electrification of the world. In 1893, Tesla's AC system powered the Chicago World's Fair (the 'War of Currents' — AC vs. Edison's DC — was effectively decided in AC's favor). Tesla's other major inventions: the Tesla Coil (1891, transformer producing high-frequency high-voltage electricity, used in radio and still used by hobbyists); contributions to radio (he demonstrated radio transmission in 1893, years before Marconi's 1901 transatlantic transmission, and was awarded priority by the US Supreme Court in 1943 after his death); the rotating magnetic field principle; the bladeless turbine; and numerous contributions to X-ray research. His grandest vision — Wardenclyffe Tower (1901-1917, meant to transmit electricity wirelessly around the world, funded by J.P. Morgan until funding was cut when Tesla admitted he wanted to give electricity away for free) — remains a symbol of visionary failure.