Edison

One of the greatest inventors of all time, Thomas Alva Edison produced a number of inventions that changed the world- electric lighting, sound recording, and an early form of moving pictures, among many others. He had little formal schooling, but he was fascinated by science. He worked extremely hard, and would spend days, months, or even years experimenting in order to make something work. He often slept fully clothed on one of his work tables, so that he could start work again first thing in the morning.

Perhaps, Edison’s most important invention was the electric bulbs. He saw that the bulb with a glowing thread or filament would work, using little electricity. It took him thousands of experiments before he discovered that the best material for the carbonized cotton thread. British scientist Joseph Swan invented the light bulb at same time as Edison and the two men later joined forces.

Edison patented 1,093 inventions in his life time. He helped make the first successful typewriter, a dictating machine, and an improved telephone mouth piece. He came close to inventing radio and predicted the use of atomic power.