Nikola Tesla remains one of history’s most enigmatic and influential inventors. His work laid the foundation for modern technology, yet many aspects of his life are still shrouded in mystery.  

1. The Father of Alternating Current.

Tesla not only developed the AC system but showcased its safety at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, wirelessly illuminating thousands of lamps. His victory in the “War of Currents” against Edison established AC as the global standard. Ironically, Edison offered Tesla $50,000 to improve DC motors but later dismissed it as an “American joke,” refusing payment.  

2. Photographic Memory and Visualization.

Tesla mentally engineered devices, perfecting them before drafting blueprints. He claimed inspiration arrived as “flashes of light,” with ideas materializing in intricate detail.  

3. Wardenclyffe Tower and Wireless Energy. 

Funded by J.P. Morgan, the tower aimed to transmit energy across oceans. When Morgan discovered Tesla’s plan to offer free electricity, he withdrew support. Today, the site houses a museum, while its principles underpin Tesla Coils and radio technology.  

4. Eccentricity and Odd Habits.

Tesla slept only 2 hours a night, insisting it sufficed to “recharge his brain.” He demanded 18 napkins at dinner, obsessed with multiples of 3. His devotion to pigeons included spending thousands to nurse an injured bird.  

5. Predictions and Unrealized Projects. 

 In the 1930s, Tesla announced “Teleforce,” a “death ray” to destroy aircraft remotely, but it remained theoretical. He experimented with ball lightning and claimed to harness energy from the “ether.”  

6. Legacy and Tragedy.

Tesla died in New Yorker Hotel Room 3327, leaving cryptic notes. The unit of magnetic induction (tesla) bears his name, while Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors honors his spirit of innovation.