Energy Usage Throughout Time

First Steam Engine

Jul 1, 1712

Thomas Newcomen invented the first steam engine, probably his greatest acheivement, developed in about 1710.

Discovery of Uranium

Jul 1, 1789

Martin Klaproth, a German chemist analyzes a shiny black mineral known as pitchblend and identifies the element uranium.

First Prototype Steam Locomotive

Feb 21, 1804

Richard Trevithick build the first prototype steam locomotive. The world's first locomotive-hauled railway journey took place as Trevithick's unnamed steam locomotive hauled a train along the tramway of the Penydarren Ironworks, in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales

First Law of Thermodynamics

Jul 1, 1847

Hermann von Helmholtz postulates the first law of thermodynamics: Energy can neither be created or destroyed, only transfered or converted.

First Light Bulb!!

Jul 1, 1879

Thimas Edison successfully prototypes his first electric light bulb.

Fateful Plunge

Jul 1, 1912

Winston Churchill converts the British navy from coal to oil.

First Successful Fuel Cell

Jul 1, 1932

Francis Bacon successfully demostrates that hydrogen and oxygen combine in a fuel cell to produce electricity.

Manhattan Project

Jul 1, 1942

The United States Government initiates the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program to develop the atomic bomb. Aside fro the bomb, the project furthered the understanding of the atomic theory, controlled nuclear reactions using uranium, and ultimately accelerated the introduction of commercial nuclear reactors.

OPEC

Jul 1, 1960

OPEC, the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries formed in Baghdad.

Exxon Valdez

Jul 1, 1988

Supertanker Exxon Valdez runs agroundnear the Alaskan coastline creating the largest oil spill in history. The pulbic's already negative impression of the oil industry worsens.