C. T. Suddeth

Happy birthday, Tesla—I think.

Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia right at midnight during a thunderstorm on July 9, 1856—or July 10—no one knows for sure, but his mother predicted that he would be a child of light. Among his accomplishments after moving to the USA: Working with AC current: AC electric motors, radio remote control, steam generators. At his death in 1943, his journals became TOP SECRET—he was said to be working on particle weapons and contacting aliens from other planets.