The Man Who Illuminated the World Some might come back from a long day at work, turn on the lamp and lie down on the sofa to read a book. Others might take the remote control and turn on the TV. However, chances are you've never really thought about how these technologies work – or the people who made them possible. If we asked, some might say that Edison laid the foundation for today's electrical grid. Others might say that Guglielmo Marconi invented the radio. However, few would mention Nikola Tesla, perhaps one of the greatest inventors of all time: the pioneer of AC electricity, radio, and even television. Despite being overshadowed by many other famous people of his time, Tesla's research and inventions had an enormous impact on American society and the world. Tesla was born on July 10, 1856 in what is modern Croatia. He was born to his father, Milutin Tesla, and his mother, Duka Tesla. His father was a Serbian priest while his mother was an inventor. He created many things to make household tasks easier, including the mechanical egg beater. Tesla attributed all his “inventive instincts” to his mother (“Master of Lightning”). The inspiration his mother provided him would eventually lead him to create his own revolutionary inventions. Tesla studied mathematics and science at the Austrian Polytechnic University in Graz. One day, he was inspired by his physics teacher who demonstrated a Gramme dynamo, a direct current generator. Tesla suggested that he could make it much more efficient by removing the spark switches. His professor scoffed, saying it would be “like building a perpetual motion machine” (“Master of Lightning”). It was only later, when he began working at a telephone company in Budapest, that this idea was realized... middle of paper...l, and the induction motor, Tesla invented many other things, including dynamos (generators electrical) and worked on a worldwide communications system. He also pioneered radar, X-ray technology, and the rotating magnetic field, the basis of all alternating current machinery. Nikola Tesla had a huge impact on American society, as even today his ideas and inventions are widely used and their adaptations can be seen almost everywhere. Regner 6Works Cited Alternating Motor. Nikola Tesla, assignee. Patent 555190. February 25, 1896. Print.Harris, William. “How did Nikola Tesla change the way we use energy?” How things work. HowStuffWorks.com, July 14, 2008. Web. May 18, 2014."Industrial Applications - AC Induction Motor." Mouser Electronics. Np, nd Web. May 20, 2014."Master of Lightning." PBS. Network. May 20, 2014."Tesla Biography." Tesla's biography. Network. May 20 2014.