Nikola Tesla's birth anniversary: A look at some of his most visionary inventions

Visionary genius Nikola Tesla, recognized for his groundbreaking inventions, came up with a vision that revolutionized people's lives. In terms of scientific advancement, he was far beyond his time. He also enjoyed playing the showman. Tesla almost died in poverty despite making numerous fortunes. Elon Musk, the wealthiest man today, honored Nikola Tesla by calling his labor of love in his memory.

While still a student, Tesla demonstrated impressive mathematical prowess. Tesla is thought to have become unwell while still a teen and only fully recovered after his father decided to send him to a technical college rather than pressuring him to become a priest. Tesla received his engineering education from the University of Prague. He wanted to focus on physics and math, but he was also quite interested in electricity. Tesla moved to the USA in 1884 after working at the Continental Edison Company in Paris.

Here is a look at some of his most enduring inventions in memory of his birthday on July 10.


Tesla Coil, Alternating current, Radio, and Remote Control
The Tesla coil, a system made up of a general and a specific coil, was one of Tesla's most impressive creations. Each component in the pair featured a capacitor that functioned like a battery to retain electrical energy. The Tesla coil was a device that generated sparks by combining low current with high voltage. His work on the Tesla coil served as the inspiration for the circuit design used in the first radios.

This is Tesla's one of the innovations that set Tesla and Edison at odds with one another. The direct current inventor, Edison, hired Tesla and gave him a $50,000 reward if he could solve DC power's issues. Tesla desired to use AC current. However, Edison worked to sabotage Tesla's AC power through a propaganda campaign that said AC power was unsafe because he was afraid of losing royalties.

Although Guglielmo Marconi's invention enabled the first transatlantic radio broadcast, Tesla is known for developing the radio. After Marconi's patents were invalidated in 1943, Tesla and two other scientists were free to take technology from him.

Today, we can change the channel with the aid of remote control without getting up from the couch and adjusting various components. Inventor Nikola Tesla made this possible with his innovativeness.

Tesla Turbine, X-ray Technology, and Hydroelectric Power
Tesla created his unique turbine-style engine while collecting design features from vehicle piston engines. It featured no blades and generated motion by discs revolving in a container.

Tesla created the first X-ray machine. Through radiation experiments, he was able to capture a few "shadowgraphs," or X-ray pictures of the human body. His photograph of a foot wearing a shoe, made in 1896, is said to be the country's first X-ray. Tesla also foresaw the negative consequences of X-rays. Also, Tesla and George Westinghouse invented the Adams Power Station, which helped understand how to harness Niagara Falls.