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Static Electricity and Lightning
Ben Franklin tied a key to a kite during a thunderstorm and proved that static electricity and lightning were the same thing. -
First Self Moving Vehicle
Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first military tractor that ran by itself on steam. It could only go 2.5 miles per hour. -
First Electric Battery
Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery. -
First Internal Combustion Engine
Samuel Morey created an engine that ran on ethanol and turpentine. -
First Electric Motor
Thomas Davenport invented the electric motor which is used in most electric appliances today. -
First Telegraph
Samuel Morse invented the electric telegraph that could send messages long distances through wires. -
Conversion of Solar Radiation to Mechanical Power
Auguste Mouchout was able to convert solar radiation directly into mechanical power. -
First Model T
Henry Ford produced the Model T, a flexible fuel vehicle. It could run on ethanol, gasoline, or a combination of the two. -
First Nuclear Weapon
The first test of a nuclear weapon, code-named Trinity,occurred in Alamogordo, New Mexico. -
First Time Power Was Made From Nuclear Plant
This was the first time that power was generated from a commercial nuclear plant in Santa Susana, California.