Course: National Osher Online - The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla (OSH-PXNRC132)
This course traces the life and innovations of Nikola Tesla, from his early years and university studies in Graz and Prague to his groundbreaking work in electricity and wireless technology. We will explore his collaborations and rivalries, including his work with Thomas Edison, the 'War of the Currents' between AC and DC power, and his partnership with George Westinghouse, which led to the lighting of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
Key topics include Tesla's telautomaton invention, his wireless experiments, and his race against Marconi in the development of radio. We will examine the Wardenclyffe, Tesla's ambitious wireless transmission tower, his work during World War I with Telefunken, and his interactions with Franklin Roosevelt. We will conclude with Tesla's later-life invention of the particle beam weapon, his negotiations to sell it to the Allies during World War II, and the mystery surrounding his secret papers after his death.