Nikola Tesla Inventions Changed the World But Not His Life

Vahid Chaychi

3 years ago

Probably the story of Nikola Tesla is one of the saddest among scientists and inventors. I have already talked about him on this site (here), but one article is not enough to describe what he has done for the world and what the world has done to him.

The 19th century is the century of inventors and inventions. Thomas Edison is the most famous inventor of that time. Everyone knows him. However, there is another inventor from that time who is not as famous. Thanks to Elon Musk, if it weren’t because of the car, Tesla, this inventor would still remain unknown. Nikola Tesla was a Serb who immigrated to the United States in 1884 when he was 28. When he boarded the ship to move towards the USA, he had only 4 cents in his pocket because he had spent all his money to buy the ticket.

He was an engineer who moved to America in search of job opportunities and a better life. Upon arriving in New York, he secured a job at Edison Machine Works, Thomas Edison’s company. Edison had a great admiration for Tesla, stating that he was very intelligent and had a remarkable ability to comprehend things easily. Tesla, in turn, wrote about Edison, expressing that despite not having a university degree, he was one of the most brilliant individuals he had ever known. However, their relationship was just beginning, and it soon became evident that Edison and Tesla were not a perfect match. Tesla was primarily an engineer and scientist, while Edison was predominantly a wealthy businessman who happened to be an inventor as well. They viewed the world from different perspectives.

In 1879, Edison invented the light bulb. He also developed a system for distributing electricity to homes. His system involved electricity generators placed in various parts of the city and a network of wires for transmitting the electricity. This system was known as DC or Direct Current. However, there were significant issues with this system. It posed a danger as it had a high risk of causing fires due to overheating cables. Additionally, there was a considerable waste of electricity in this system, requiring a strong generator approximately every one-mile radius. Edison was aware of these problems and sought the help of Nikola Tesla to find a solution.

Nikola Tesla invented another system that he called AC or Alternating Current. This system effectively resolved all the existing problems. It allowed for the easy transmission of electricity over long distances without the concerns of overheating or wastage that caused voltage drops. Tesla’s invention proved to be a superior replacement for Edison’s system. However, Edison was profiting significantly from his existing system. If people were to discover that Tesla’s system worked much better, was more affordable, and safer, Edison would face a substantial loss of income.

Edison had promised to award $50,000 to Tesla if he could resolve the DC electricity problem. At that time, this was a substantial amount of money. However, when Edison learned about Tesla’s invention that could potentially replace DC, he refused to honor his promise. As a result, Tesla decided to leave Edison’s company. Without sufficient funds to mass-produce his invention, Tesla had to work as a construction worker to make a living. It was during this time that an investor named George Westinghouse learned about Tesla’s experiences with Edison. Westinghouse offered to pay $50,000 for the AC system and agreed to pay $2.5 per horsepower for every unit of AC generator electricity production.

Tesla began working for Westinghouse while Edison did everything in his power to discredit Tesla and his AC system. Edison’s influence and wealth were bolstered by the support of JP Morgan, with whom he had established the General Electric company. Being widely popular and trusted by the public, Edison utilized his platform to spread the notion that AC was dangerous and could potentially cause fatalities. As the electric chair gained prominence as an alternative to hanging, Edison invested a significant amount of money to ensure that officials used AC power for executions. Simultaneously, he manipulated public perception through newspapers, disseminating the belief that AC had no practical use other than the ability to kill people.

Tesla, an educated engineer and scientist, approached things from a mathematical perspective. To counter the negative atmosphere created by Edison against the AC system, Tesla organized a demonstration at the University of Columbia. In front of an audience, he subjected himself to high-voltage AC electricity. Although the electricity had the potential to be fatal, Tesla remained unharmed. This experiment, often referred to as his “Tesla Coil Demonstration,” involved the transmission of high-frequency AC electricity through his body. Tesla utilized high-frequency currents, typically in the range of several hundred thousand to several million hertz. These currents possess unique properties that allow them to pass through the surface of the body without deep penetration, thereby reducing the risk of severe injury or electrocution. Despite this reduced risk, Tesla still took a significant personal risk to conduct this demonstration, all in an effort to prove that Edison was spreading falsehoods about his invention.

Utilizing the power of Niagara Falls, Tesla harnessed AC electricity to supply the city of Buffalo. He was the first person to leverage water power for electricity production. Thanks to Nikola Tesla, Buffalo became the first city in the world to have electricity throughout its entire urban area. AC power gained immense popularity and became widely adopted worldwide. The electricity used in homes, factories, offices, and other settings today is Tesla’s AC, not Edison’s DC electricity. Despite this fact, Edison continued to be recognized as the mastermind behind the electrical revolution due to his wealth and fame, while Tesla, despite his groundbreaking contributions, remained relatively poor and unknown.

On the other hand, Westinghouse was burdened with heavy debt, making it difficult for them to compete with Edison. Westinghouse also owed Tesla a significant amount of money. He requested Tesla to be patient because if he were to pay Tesla, it could potentially drive the company into bankruptcy. Westinghouse owed Tesla a sum of $12 million. In a selfless act, Tesla tore up his contract to save the company. Tesla was on the path to becoming the first billionaire in the world, but he chose to disregard the opportunity to prioritize the survival of others. His AC patent had the potential to make him a multi-billionaire even at that time. However, he demonstrated a lack of concern for personal wealth and focused instead on helping others.

Tesla remained poor. He had lots of ideas and designs but he didn’t have any money to implement them. In 1896, Marconi invented the radio in Italy. However, Tesla has recorded the patent one year before. But he didn’t build the radio because he didn’t have the money to do it. Although Edison knew that the patent belonged to Tesla, he offered Marconi to invest for his invention. Therefore, in 1901, radio waves reached the United States from Europe, and this made Marconi so famous. When people asked Tesla why he didn’t sue Marconi, he said, Marconi is a good fellow. Let him continue. He is using seventeen of my patents.

Tesla remained in a state of poverty despite having numerous ideas and designs, as he lacked the necessary funds to bring them to fruition. In 1896, Marconi invented the radio in Italy. However, Tesla had already recorded the patent for it a year prior. Nevertheless, he was unable to build the radio due to financial constraints. Although Edison was aware that the patent rightfully belonged to Tesla, he offered to invest in Marconi’s invention. As a result, in 1901, radio waves successfully traveled from Europe to the United States, catapulting Marconi to fame. When people questioned why Tesla did not take legal action against Marconi, he replied, “Marconi is a good fellow. Let him continue. He is using seventeen of my patents.”

For reasons unknown, but in 1904, the US Records of the Patent and Trademark Office recognized Marconi as the inventor of radio, disregarding Tesla’s documented patents. Some speculate that Edison may have been involved in this decision. In 1909, Marconi received the Nobel Prize for an invention that rightfully belonged to Tesla. When Tesla learned of this, he decided to sue Marconi. However, due to Marconi’s rising wealth and influence, similar to Edison’s, Tesla faced significant challenges in pursuing his complaints. Six months after Tesla’s death in 1943, the court officially declared Tesla as the true and genuine inventor of radio.

Tesla died in poverty, destitute, depressed, and alone in a hotel in New York. His body was discovered approximately three days after his passing. The story above only scratches the surface of his immense accomplishments and the extent of his struggles. I attempted to provide a concise overview, but the reality of his life was far more complex. This serves as a reminder of the harsh realities that can be faced in life: There’s No Justice! You Must Protect Yourself!

If we fail to develop strength, we will face a bleak future, regardless of our intelligence, goodness, or kindness. It is essential that we take responsibility for ourselves and humanity. The adversaries of humanity seek to inflict far worse harm than what Tesla experienced. They are merciless and ruthless. To safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and humanity, it is crucial to exert great effort. There is no alternative but to work diligently.

We achieve our goals, not immediately, but slowly and surely!

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