We might know a lot of things about Nikola Tesla – like his invention of radio, induction motor and the discovery of cosmic rays. Thanks to this man for devising AC system (Altering Current) that we use in our homes today. But did you know, he was as eccentric as he was intelligent. Here are certain things that we probably never knew about this genius. Read 15 Interesting Facts about Nikola Tesla below

1. Nikola Tesla was born during a lightning storm.



Call it a co-incidence, a divine signal or good luck, but the history has it that Nikola Tesla was born during a lightning storm. It was the midnight of July 9 and July 10, when his mother was midway through birth and a deep lightning struck. The midwife who was escorting her mother termed it a bad omen and declared that this child will be a child of darkness. To this her mother’s words were, "No. He will be child of light"

2. Nikola Tesla claimed to never sleep for more than two hours a day.



To all those who believe that a human body needs 8 hours sleep to perform well, here’s some news: Nikola Tesla claimed that he never used to sleep for more than two hours a day! That means that out of 24 hours, he was awake for 22 hours. On one occasion, Tesla got so involved in his work at his laboratory that he continued working for 84 hours without any sleep or rest.

3. Nikola Tesla drank whiskey every day. He thought whiskey would make him live up to 150 years.



Cheers to a long life! Another interesting fact about Nikola Tesla is that he used to drink Whiskey daily, because he thought that whiskey would make him live up to 150 years. He considered whiskey as a tonic to live younger and longer, and only gave up drinking after the prohibition came in the First World War. Gradually however, he gave up on all the beverages except milk and water.

4. Nikola Tesla never married or fell in love, despite numerous women “madly in love with him



They say that behind every successful man there is a woman. But Nikola Tesla proved an exception. He never married or had any serious love affair, for he believed that marriage (and sex) would restrict his abilities to think scientifically. Even though it is reported that there were a lot of women who eyed Tesla, some even ‘madly in love with him’, but Nicola Tesla refrained. However, on his death bed, Tesla told a reporter, “Sometimes I feel that by not marrying, I made too great a sacrifice to my work.” Grudges eh?

5. Nikola Tesla believed that women would become superior to men in future societal standing, and stated that “a new sex order” will appear with “the female as superior” .



Along with being a scientist, an electric engineer, mechanical engineer, a physicist and a futurist of his repute, Nikola Tesla had feminist streaks too. He had a firm view that women are the builders of the society and soon there will be “a new sex order…with the female as superior” . He mentioned “This struggle of the human female toward sex equality will end in a new sex order, with the female as superior. “

..remaining 10

6. Nikola Tesla had the ability to visualize in three dimensions.



Nikola Tesla had a photographic memory. He used to memorize books, images and a stockpile of journals in his head. He also possessed the ability to visualize in three dimensions and used to control the terrible nightmares he experienced as a child. Must say it's a God’s gift!

7. Nikola Tesla suffered from severe OCD.

A lesser known fact about Nikola Tesla is that he struggled from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). But his passion towards his work was so exemplary that his creative abilities overshadowed his health struggles. Even while struggling with a mental illness like OCD, Tesla used to work with the likes of Edison and Westinghouse. His resolve and brilliance towards his work is an inspiration

8. Nikola Tesla invented the radio in 1892 and the first remote controlled toy boat in 1898, making it to the Newspaper’s headlines.



Thanks to Nikola Tesla, today we can enjoy our favorite music on radio. Yes, he was the man behind the invention of Radio. He came out with the basic radio design in 1892. Then after 6 years in 1898, he invented the first radio controlled robot-boat which was controlled by radio waves. This toy boat was also exhibited in the Electrical Exhibition in the same year. This was the first invention of its kind and it made way to the front page newspapers America.

9. Tesla proposed the idea of AC current, but was never recognized for his invention. Edison’s proposal of the DC current was more popular those days.



In what the historians call as a “War of Currents”, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison proposed their theories of AC Current and DC Current. Tesla promoted the AC current theory and Thomas backed the DC Current theory. But unfortunately, he was never recognized for his AC Current invention because people chose Edison’s proposal of the DC Current. During those days, Edison was a very renowned scientist and people would rarely negate his views.

10. Tesla predicted the internet. He said – “The household’s daily newspaper will [one day] be printed ‘wirelessly’ in the home”.


In a divine vision of sorts, Nikola Tesla predicted that in the years to come, a global system of wireless communication would reach every household. He was so confident of his prediction that he proposed this scheme to J. P. Morgan. He visioned a world system of wireless communication to pass on telephonic messages, broadcast news, music, stock market, and even share pictures across the world! So this guy really knew the pulse of internet long before.

11. In 1899, Nikola Tesla transmitted 100 million volts of high-frequency electricity wirelessly and lit up a bank of 200 light bulbs.



In the year 1899, Tesla undertook the famous Pike’s Peak experiment, wherein he transmitted electricity without the use of wires. In its own kind of an experiment, he transmitted 100 million volts of electric power over a distance of 26 miles and lit 200 light bulbs and also ran an electric motor! In this experiment, Tesla claimed that only 5% of the transmitted energy was lost.

12. Nikola Tesla planned to do an experiment on children by lining their schoolrooms walls with a high frequency current. He believed that the electromagnetic waves would charge the room, thereby making them healthier.

Tesla was a brainer. In 1912, he designed “a plan to make dull students bright and smart with the help of electric waves.” Yes, you heard that right. He proposed that “saturating [the schoolroom] with infinitesimal electric waves vibrating at high frequency can stimulate electromagnet”, thereby making it healthy. He shared his idea with William H. Maxwell, the superintendent of New York City schools, who gradually accepted the idea.

On number 4, Nikolai Tesla died alone, and was found dead in his home days after. How come he was able to grant an interview on his deathbed then?

13. Nikola Tesla used to feed pigeons and nurse the injured ones back to health



Along with his other strange habits like having dinner at 8:10 PM sharp and squishing his toes hundred times for each foot every night, Tesla also had a peculiar habit of taking care of pigeons. He used to feed them in the park every day and would bring the injured ones to his room and would caress them to good health. On one occasion, he spent around $2,000 to fix a pigeons’ broken wing and leg!

14. Nikola Tesla was an advocate of sterilising criminal, people with mental problems and believed that by 2100 people who aren’t “desirable parents” shouldn’t be able to breed.

Tesla has some serious thoughts about the future progeny. He proposed eugenics, the science of improving population by controlled breeding. According to Tesla, by the year 2100, there should only be “desirable parents” who are fit to breed their children. He strongly advised to prevent the breeding of the unfit by sterilization and mating instinct guidance.

15. In Silicon Valley, there is a Nikola Tesla’s statue that radiates Free Wi-fi.



In 2013, a statue of Nikola Tesla was erected in the Silicon Valley. The statue is equipped with a free wi-fi. It also contains a time capsule that would be open in 2043. That’s just a small token of respect to the man who dreamed of an efficient system of wireless power in the world. The statue was result of a campaign started by a CA based company Northern Imagination

GogetterMD:
On number 4, Nikolai Tesla died alone, and was found dead in his home days after. How come he was able to grant an interview on his deathbed then?

He was reportedly killed by the same reporters who suffocated him to death after a day long interview.

GeniusDavid:


He was reportedly killed by the same reporters who suffocated him to death after a day long interview.

Hmmmm. Never heard that part of the story before. That's definitely a new twist I haven't heard of.

I'm still his number 1 fan though

Tesla is a bastard jare......... His AC motor cost me sleepless nights!!!!! I have utmost respect for him anyways

How I wish there is something like memory transplant coz brain like diz shudnt waste

As an inventor, the only aspect of his life that i love is the pattern he used during invention.
Although, all inventors share an inner innovative pattern, but Telsa was distinctive.

Telsa developed his own prototype in his mind, and even claimed that such way of visualizing concepts in the mind his far more preferreble than the local and traditional way of carrying out an experiment.


Well, i also have this idea for the computer technology on the levels of programming language.
I need a partner (programmer) to co-develop it.
Although, am still developing the concepts and all other theoritical foundations and experimental prototypes.
I have even wrote an abridge sci-fi book on it, which i once hosted on nairaland.
All my mates were busy writting programs, but i am busy inventing a concept to develop a level of programming language for this century.

Levels of prog. Lang. Implies:

- Machine language

- L.L.L.

- H.L.L.

Am currently devoloping another level for it. But this prompted me to the visualization of a super-intelligent machine which i will still not disclose the coined names.


But to say the truth, i am a lazy inventor cuz i sleep for 4-5 hours everyday.
I am more of an enterpreneur than an inventor.

And other weakness in my personality and temperament.


At the end of the day.... I woke up and realized that it was a dream.

Not a dream but just joking---That is the patent.

sinaj:
How I wish there is something like memory transplant coz brain like diz shudnt waste

Yeah its being worked on....blue brain

sinaj:
How I wish there is something like memory transplant coz brain like diz shudnt waste

That's why that Italian surgeon is working on head transplant

danidee10:


Yeah its being worked on....blue brain

xo I heard


I hpe it will turn out to be a success


W've lost many smart brains alredi

danidee10:


Yeah its being worked on....blue brain

will check it up lera

Too many controversy over these guys sef

tartar9:
No 16:He is overrated

Mate I guess u meant "underated". imo Edison should be the "overrated" One, in as much as he is a respected inventor, he diverted the achievement of others to himself....

GeniusDavid:
6. Nikola Tesla had the ability to visualize in three dimensions.



Nikola Tesla had a photographic memory. He used to memorize books, images and a stockpile of journals in his head. He also possessed the ability to visualize in three dimensions and used to control the terrible nightmares he experienced as a child. Must say it's a God’s gift!

7. Nikola Tesla suffered from severe OCD.

A lesser known fact about Nikola Tesla is that he struggled from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). But his passion towards his work was so exemplary that his creative abilities overshadowed his health struggles. Even while struggling with a mental illness like OCD, Tesla used to work with the likes of Edison and Westinghouse. His resolve and brilliance towards his work is an inspiration

8. Nikola Tesla invented the radio in 1892 and the first remote controlled toy boat in 1898, making it to the Newspaper’s headlines.



Thanks to Nikola Tesla, today we can enjoy our favorite music on radio. Yes, he was the man behind the invention of Radio. He came out with the basic radio design in 1892. Then after 6 years in 1898, he invented the first radio controlled robot-boat which was controlled by radio waves. This toy boat was also exhibited in the Electrical Exhi

Every human can think in 3 dimensions. I guess he was just a memory champion; nothing special.

GeniusDavid:
13. Nikola Tesla used to feed pigeons and nurse the injured ones back to health



Along with his other strange habits like having dinner at 8:10 PM sharp and squishing his toes hundred times for each foot every night, Tesla also had a peculiar habit of taking care of pigeons. He used to feed them in the park every day and would bring the injured ones to his room and would caress them to good health. On one occasion, he spent around $2,000 to fix a pigeons’ broken wing and leg!

14. Nikola Tesla was an advocate of sterilising criminal, people with mental problems and believed that by 2100 people who aren’t “desirable parents” shouldn’t be able to breed.

Tesla has some serious thoughts about the future progeny. He proposed eugenics, the science of improving population by controlled breeding. According to Tesla, by the year 2100, there should only be “desirable parents” who are fit to breed their children. He strongly advised to prevent the breeding of the unfit by sterilization and mating instinct guidance.

15. In Silicon Valley, there is a Nikola Tesla’s statue that radiates Free Wi-fi.



In 2013, a statue of Nikola Tesla was erected in the Silicon Valley. The statue is equipped with a free wi-fi. It also contains a time capsule that would be open in 2043. That’s just a small token of respect to the man who dreamed of an efficient system of wireless power in the world. The statue was result of a campaign started by a CA based company Northern Imagination

Not to forget that he actually fell in love with a pigeon & believed that it loved him back

ZarZar:


Not to forget that he actually fell in love with a pigeon & believed that it loved him back

The thing loneliness does to a man . Like they say love isn't bound by space, time or laws of nature, its just an unquantifiable force of attraction between any two living entities. Be it as it may, I actually find it quite intriguing he died as a VIRGIN.