The Fascinating Journey of Electricity

Electricity exists naturally in various forms, from lightning storms to electric eels. Ancient Egyptians were aware of shocks from electric fish, referring to them as 'Thunderer of the Nile'.

Around 600 BCE, Thales of Miletus discovered that rubbing amber with fur created a magnetic attraction. This was the earliest recorded observation of static electricity.

William Gilbert coined 'electricus' in the 1600s, meaning 'like amber'. He distinguished between magnetism and the static electricity produced by rubbing objects.

The Leyden jar, invented in 1745, was the first device capable of storing and discharging electricity, effectively the earliest capacitor, launching many electrical experiments.

In 1800, Alessandro Volta created the Voltaic Pile, the first true battery. It used alternating discs of zinc and copper layered with brine-soaked cloth.

Michael Faraday's 1831 experiments showed that moving a magnet inside a coil of wire generates an electric current, a landmark discovery for generating electricity.

Nikola Tesla's work on the alternating current (AC) system in the late 19th century outmatched Thomas Edison's direct current (DC), revolutionizing electrical power distribution.