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Benjamin Franklin
On this day in 1852, Benjamin Franklin discovered a link between lightning and electricity. His experiment consisted of a kite, a key, and a silk string. When the lightning struck the kite, the powerful force traveled through the silk string and met with the key. -
Electrolysis
William Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle broke down water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolysis apparatus. -
First patent for electric motor
Thomas Davenport patents the first electric motor. However, these are nothing like the motors/engines of today as they are much less powerful. -
Telegraph
On this date, Samuel Morse finally, and successfully patented and developed the telegraph. It worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire laid between stations. In addition to helping invent the telegraph, Samuel Morse created the Morse code that assigned a set of dots and dashes to each letter of the English alphabet and allowed for the simple transmission of complex messages across telegraph lines. -
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Energy use in the US
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Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell created the telephone. This opened up a whole new industry for the world that would develop into something larger than ever before. -
Light Bulb
Thomas Edison and his crew practically invented the first lightbulb. In November of 1879, Edison filed a patent for his use of carbon filament to create the bulb. The patent listed several materials that might be used for the filament, including cotton, linen and wood. -
First Hydroelectric Power Plant
On this day in 1882, the US's first hydroelectric dam went under construction. It was constructed on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. The plant, later named the Appleton Edison Light Company, was initiated by Appleton paper manufacturer H.J. Rogers, who had been inspired by Thomas Edison's plans for an electricity-producing station in New York. -
Wright Brothers
The wright brothers were the first humans to experience flight by planes. Their engine was unlike any other invention seen before at the time. -
Atom Boom
The first atomic bomb was successfully tested on this day. It consisted of plutonium scrapped up from a nuclear waste pile. The first atomic bomb was used in warfare on 6 August 1945. This bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan during WWII and was absolutely devasting to the world. -
First Smartphone
IBM created the first "smartphone" ever known to humankind. This phone had a touchscreen, was portable, and even included a fax machine. Some negativities of this phone were that it was built like a brick and weighed at least 2 pounds. And get this, it cost $899, now that's some insane pricing.
