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Gilbert writes book
Sir William Gilbert was appointed the court physician to Queen Elizabeth I and published the book De Magnete. It presented his research into the nature of magnetism and electricity, thereby shattering many popular scientific theories. -
Ben Franklin's Experiment
Benjamin Franklin famously flew a kite in the midst of a lightning storm to prove that lighting was indeed electricity. -
Telegraph
Samuel Morse uses the telegraph to send its first message: "What hath God wrought?" from Washington to Baltimore. -
First oil well
Edwin Drake, a typical American pioneer, dug the first oil well in the USA while ill and relatively unemployed. He failed to file a patent. Oil wells continue to be an influential piece of our economy today. -
Lightbulb patented
Thomas Edison completed a patent for the lighbulb, which would soon become widely commercialized and an integral piece of energy consumption. -
First windmill
exact date unknown
The first windmill that produced electricity was built by Professor James Blyth of Anderson's College, Glasgow. He experimented with three different turbine designs, the last of which is said to have powered his Scottish home for 25 years. -
15 millionth Model T
The 15 millionth Model T rolled off the assembly line. These automobiles were revolutionary due to their affordability, and na automobile craze soon swept the rest of the nation and the world. Car fuel is a hotly debated topic today as we are searching for affordable renewable resoures. -
Patented solar cell
The first patent was issued for the process on solar cell developed by Bell Laboratory. The path to solar energy began this far back in history and is still undergoing imporvements. Solar energy today is getting more affordable and widespread. -
Ruby Laser
Theodore Maiman invented the ruby laser. Lasers play an important role in healthcare, the creation of smartphones, fiber-optic communications, CDs, and DVDs, to name a few! -
Three Gorges Dam Begun
Construction of the Three Gorges Dam began after the Yangtze River was blocked on this date. Prior to this, the work had consisted of preparation, which took five years by itself. It is an enormous compoenent of China's
