Inspiring Innovations Spotlight: Nikola Tesla

Posted on December 20, 2023 in Inspirational People

AI, computing, robots that can paint — these are common topics of daily discussion here at The Kirby Foundation. The groundwork of modern technology like this was laid by a multitude of different innovators, inventors, and fusioneers, and it is to these ingenious pioneers that we owe all of our futuristic advancements — but one man stands a little higher than the rest. Without him, who knows what the present day would look like, or how long it would have taken humanity to reach its current height.

That man is, of course, Nikola Tesla.

Discover how Tesla’s name became synonymous with innovation and brilliance, and why he stands as one of the most influential inventors in history.

Related: Watch Modern Inventor Paul Kirby Create Dulcinea & Fusioneering

Nikola Tesla: Birth of a Visionary

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, engineer, and futurist renowned for his groundbreaking work in electrical engineering and the staggering number of his inventions which laid the foundation for modern electrical power systems and technologies.

He was born on July 10, 1856, in the Austrian Empire (now Croatia). Tesla’s mother had a knack for making appliances, tools, and crafts, and was capable of memorizing long-verse epic Siberian poetry. Tesla would go on to credit his mother’s influence and genetics for his own inventive spirit and eidetic memory.

Early Education & Introduction to Electricity

In his schooling, Tesla thrived – to his own detriment. Nikola was capable of such amazing mental feats as performing integral calculus in his head, leading teachers to suspect him of cheating, though they could never produce any proof.

Tesla’s interest in electricity began after electrical demonstrations made by his physics professor. The “mysterious phenomena” of electrical currents gave Tesla a window into a world that seemed simultaneously secret and magical, and Tesla became devoted to learning as much as he could about this “wonderful force.”

Enthralled by mathematics and sciences, Tesla harbored a fervent desire to pursue a career in engineering. His aspirations were hindered by his father’s unwavering push for Nikola to join the priesthood, a notion Nikola felt “constantly oppressed” by. At the age of seventeen, Tesla fell victim to cholera, a pivotal moment that led to a cunning negotiation with his father. In a decisive move, young Nikola secured a significant concession: if he should survive his illness, his father would allow him to attend the renowned Austrian Polytechnic School at Graz to study engineering.

Tesla survived, and the rest is history.

Read More: From Lightning Rods to Bifocals – The Inventions of Ben Franklin

Pioneering Work in Electrical Engineering

Tesla’s most significant contribution to science and technology lies in his development and promotion of alternating current (AC) electrical systems. His invention of the AC induction motor and advancements in AC transmission and distribution systems radically transformed the way electricity was harnessed and utilized. These innovations laid the groundwork for the electrification of the modern world, making electrical power significantly safer, more efficient, and more accessible.

Tesla Versus Edison

Tesla’s feud with Thomas Edison, a staunch supporter of direct current (DC), is well-documented. Edison championed his direct current as the standard for electrical power — frequently lying about its safety and results — while Tesla advocated for AC due to its ability to be transmitted over great distances more efficiently. A long battle against Edison’s smear campaigns and vast financial resources ensued, but the success of Tesla’s AC system — demonstrated notably at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago — solidified its superiority and eventual adoption.

Tesla additionally envisioned harnessing renewable energy sources long before their widespread consideration. He advocated for the utilization of natural resources like sunlight, wind, and tides, foreseeing their potential to power the world while minimizing environmental impact — a concept increasingly relevant today.

Related: Another Innovator Ahead of His Time — Leonardo da Vinci

Tesla’s Visionary Inventions & The Integration of Disciplines

Tesla’s genius lay not only in his inventions but also in his multidisciplinary approach. An active fusioneer, he seamlessly merged physics, engineering, and mathematics, challenging established norms and pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. His creative approach resulted in inventions far ahead of his time, shaping the technological landscape for generations to come. In his lifetime, Tesla secured roughly 300 patents across multiple countries.

In addition to alternating current, some of Tesla’s most influential inventions include:

• The Tesla Coil: One of his most iconic inventions, the Tesla Coil is a high-voltage, dual-tuned resonant transformer that generates high-frequency alternating current electricity. It is still used today in radio technology and arc welders, and it facilitated experiments in electrical transmission.
• Wireless Transmission of Electricity: Tesla envisioned and experimented with the wireless transmission of energy, aiming to transmit electricity without the need for cables. Although his experimental wireless transmission station project was never completed, it laid the groundwork for the future wireless technologies we benefit from today.
• The Tesla Turbine: Tesla’s 100th patent, this was a bladeless turbine designed for the generation of mechanical power. The innovative concept used the principle of smooth, boundary-layer flow, and its applications — from waste removal to biomedical blood pumps — are still being explored today.
• Remote Control Technology: Tesla developed and publicly demonstrated one of the earliest forms of remote control technology by creating a radio-controlled boat and showcasing it to the public in the late 1800s. That’s right: the Wild West existed simultaneously with remote-controlled vehicles. Tesla tried to sell this tech to the military, but it went over their heads at the time.
• X-Ray Experimentation: Tesla conducted early experiments in X-ray imaging and radiant energy, contributing greatly to the development of X-ray technology. However, his X-ray research wasn’t as well-documented or commercialized compared to other inventors like Wilhelm Röntgen.

Enduring Legacy and Relevance

Tesla’s eccentricities and grandiose ideas led to financial challenges and strained relationships with investors. Simply put, he was a man too far ahead of his time to be appropriately appreciated. By 1928, Tesla no longer had a laboratory or any funding to speak of. In 1943, he died alone and penniless at the age of 86.

Despite financial struggles, battles with rival inventors, and the limitations of his time, Tesla’s legacy endures as an inspiration to future generations of scientists, inventors, and innovators. Without Tesla, so many of today’s technological advancements simply wouldn’t exist — chief among them, the electrical infrastructure we use all over the world for just about everything.

While he was undoubtedly blessed with one of the greatest intellects ever to grace the Earth, Nikola Tesla’s astounding number of inventions and his remarkable contributions to society all came from an uncompromising spirit and a will to innovate: something we all have the power to possess.

Do you have a vision for a better world? Join the innovation conversation on our Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest pages, check out Paul Kirby’s documentary film, and get ready to be inspired!