Tesla: Signals. Rivals. Ruin.Episode 72:04
The Headline That Reached Mars
Tesla's disputed signal becomes mass entertainment as newspapers, musicians, inventors, and skeptics join the argument.
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Transcript
Richmond Times described three taps; the Library of Congress lists a January 13th, 1901 article.
In 1899, Nikola Tesla conducted electrical experiments at a Colorado Springs station.
He spent half a year there, testing electricity at his experimental station.
A Richmond Times account described Tesla beside his instrument and three taps from his receiver.
In 1901, Tesla claimed he was receiving radio communications from Mars.
Tesla’s Mars claim was broadly reported in the press.
On January 13th, 1901, one article promised communication with Mars.
Contemporaries often called him Dr. Tesla or simply Tesla.
A 1901 piece, A Signal From Mars, March and Two Step, presented music Martians might be playing.
The piece became a musical novelty for curious listeners.
A mystery can travel farther than an answer when wonder carries it.
Scientists showed little serious interest in Tesla’s alleged Mars communications.
The idea of signals from Mars was prevalent at the turn of the twentieth century.
In 1915, Tesla described a wireless world system built for private communication.
In 1915, Tesla said his wireless system allowed as many as 100 people to talk.
In 1920, an article reported that Marconi believed he was receiving signals from the planets.
Thomas Edison said that work gave grounds for believing other worlds were signaling Earth.
Scientists showed little serious interest; no signals from another world had been found.
Earlier in Tesla's career, Wardenclyffe’s laboratory facility was completed in 1902.
Where it leaves off
While scientists doubted the Mars signal, Tesla began raising a tower intended to make the whole planet part of his wireless system.
Sources
- Messages to and from Outer Spaceloc.govsecondary
- Sample text for Library of Congress control number 2001037808catdir.loc.govsecondary
- Search Strategies & Selected Articles - Nikola Tesla: Topics in Chronicling America - Research Guides at Library of Congressguides.loc.govsecondary
- Nikola Tesla Sees a Wireless Vision - New York Times, Sunday - October 3, 1915 - Open Tesla Researchteslaresearch.jimdofree.comprimary
- Introduction - Nikola Tesla: Topics in Chronicling America - Research Guides at Library of Congressguides.loc.govsecondary
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