Electricity - One of the Greatest Innovations in Human History

Electricity is the phenomenon associated with the flow of electric charges. And it has been present on Earth long before we humans knew of it. Lightening is one of the natural forms of electricity. But after the 18th century it started to find its way in human life. And it did it so successfully that today, Electricity is the most important aspect of our life. It powers almost everything and it has changed our lives completely. Its the reason why the world has seen rapid development in every aspect of our life. Its so much important that we can't live without it for a mere one day. This is surely one of the biggest innovations in human history. But what is the history behind it? Read more to find out.

      That list is a long one and most of the people in it are regarded as one of the greatest scientists ever. Major work on electricity was started by William Gilbert in 1600 when he did a careful study on electricity and magnetism. He is also credited for coining the name electricity.
        Another extensive work was done in 18th century by Benjamin Franklin who sacrificed many of his possessions for it. In June 1752 he proved that lightening was indeed electric in nature by attaching a metal key to a kite during a storm.The following century saw many great works in field of electricity that are:

" In 1791, Luigi Galvani published his discovery of bioelectricity, demonstrating that electricity was the medium by which nerve cells passed signals to the muscles. Alessandro Volta's battery of 1800, made from alternating layers of zinc and copper, provided scientists with a more reliable source of electrical energy than the electrostatic machines previously used. The recognition of electromagnetism, the unity of electric and magnetic phenomena, is due to Hans Christian Ørstedand André-Marie Ampère in 1819-1820; Michael Faraday invented the electric motor in 1821, and Georg Ohm mathematically analysed the electrical circuit in 1827. Electricity and magnetism (and light) were definitively linked by James Clerk Maxwell later. " source = wikipedia

 This progress during the early 19th Century was rapid and these are classified as ones in field of electric science. Many of the modern applications of electricity we see today (Electrical Engineering) were researched for in the late 19th century by likes of  Nikola Tesla, Galileo Ferraris, Oliver Heaviside,Thomas Edison, Ottó Bláthy, Ányos Jedlik, Sir Charles Parsons, Joseph Swan, George Westinghouse, Ernst Werner von Siemens, Alexander Graham Bell and Lord Kelvin. Through them electricity was turned from a scientific curiosity to an essential tool for modern life, becoming the driving force for the second industrial revolution. 
                

So the next time when you press a switch and experience the greatness of this innovation do remember these great names and their great works. :)