Topic
Tesla, Faraday, Newton, Lovelace and Leonardo: what they actually discovered and built.
6 articles
Science and invention
Faraday found electromagnetic induction in 1831, made electricity produce steady motion in 1821 and gave 19 series of Christmas Lectures. Here is each discovery, explained.
7 min read
Science and invention
Newton found that one law of gravity holds the apple and the Moon, that white light is a mix of colours, and calculus. Here is each discovery, with dates and his own words.
8 min read
Science and invention
Leonardo designed a flying machine, a parachute, an armoured vehicle and a 280-metre bridge. Here is where each is drawn, and which ones anyone actually built.
8 min read
Science and invention
Ada Lovelace's 'first program' is a 25-step table that works out a Bernoulli number. Here is how it runs, where the bug is, and why her credit is still argued over.
8 min read
Science and invention
Tesla vs Edison was a fight over how to send electricity. Here is how AC beat DC between 1882 and 1896, and which famous stories about the two rivals are myths.
8 min read
Science and invention
Tesla invented the induction motor, the polyphase AC system and the Tesla coil. He did not invent AC, X-rays or neon. Here is each claim, checked against the patents.
8 min read