10 Historical Energy Events

Static Electricity

Jan 1, 600

Thales of Miletos deduced that friction made amber magnetic, unlike some other minerals.

William Gilbert

Jan 1, 1600

Studied electricity and magnetism, and distinguished lodestone effect from static electricity made from rubbing amber. Gave rise to the words "electric' and "electricity".

Lightning

Jun 1, 1752

Benjamin Franklin decided to fly a kite with a key attached to it during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning sparks share similarities. He performed this experiment after some others in France.

Electromagnetic Generator

Jan 1, 1790

Converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Originally invented by Luigi Aloisio Galvani, but improved by Michael Faraday later on.

Bioelectricity

Jan 1, 1791

Luigi Galvani discovered bioelectricity. Showed that nerve cells passing signals to muscles is a form of electricity.

First Battery

Jan 1, 1800

Alessandro Volta created the first battery, as the result of a professional disagreement with his colleague Galvani. Consisted of two electrodes, one made of zinc and the other copper.

Electromagnetic Induction

Jan 1, 1831

Generation of energy in a wire, producing an electric current.
Discovered by Michael Faraday.

Alexander Graham Bell

Jan 1, 1880

He created the Photophone, which allowed for transmissions of sound and conversion of a beam of light. World's first wireless telephone.

Lasers

Jan 1, 1917

Albert Einstein est theoretic foundation for lasers for absorbtion and emmision of electromagnetic radiation.