Nikola Tesla’s genius was as boundless as his imagination, and his ambitions for the world were almost otherworldly. Had he received the limitless funding he dreamed of, he believed he could have transformed humanity—or perhaps even endangered it.
Here are some other incredible, lesser-known facts about Tesla and his unusual life:
1. Tesla’s Lifelong Longevity Goal
Tesla initially aimed to live to 150, later revising his target to 135 after giving up alcohol when Prohibition started. Known for his unusual self-care habits, he regularly charged his body with high-voltage electricity, believing it could boost his vitality and longevity. Although he passed away in 1943 at age 86, he maintained that his practices contributed to his health and stamina. By his original calculations, he might have lived until 2006.
2. The Infamous “Death Beam”
Tesla claimed to have developed a weapon that could bring down entire armies, though he insisted it wasn’t a “death ray” but a “death beam”—one he touted as far deadlier, given that a beam of particles wouldn’t dissipate as a ray would. Tesla spent years trying to sell his invention, which he claimed could destroy targets from 200 miles away, to several governments. Despite his insistence, the “death beam” remains one of his more controversial (and unproven) projects.
3. A Pigeon Love Story
Tesla never married, famously declaring that great inventions rarely came from married men. However, he did fall deeply in love with a white pigeon he cared for, going so far as to spend over $2,000 building a device to nurse her injured bones. He described his connection to her as if she were his soulmate, claiming that when she died, he felt his life’s purpose was over. Though a germophobe, Tesla often left his hotel windows open for pigeons to enter, adding another layer to his eccentricity.
4. A “Death Beam” as Collateral
Tesla once settled an overdue hotel bill by handing the management a box he claimed contained a working model of his “death beam.” He cautioned them never to open it without extreme caution, warning of potential detonation. After his death in 1943, curious hotel staff opened the box—only to find it filled with random lab parts, underscoring his penchant for both humor and mystique.
5. Master of Illusion: Tesla and the Radio-Controlled Boat
In 1898, Tesla amazed onlookers by demonstrating what he called a “teleautomaton” at an electrical exhibition in New York. He invited the crowd to believe they could control a miniature boat simply by shouting commands, but Tesla was secretly piloting it with a concealed radio transmitter—making this one of the earliest demonstrations of remote control technology.
6. A Saintly Legacy?
Tesla’s impact extends beyond science; his legacy is so profound that some in the Serbian Orthodox Church have called for his canonization as a saint. Revered not only for his innovations but also for his contributions to the global Serbian community, Tesla remains a cultural icon with a growing legacy that blends science, mysticism, and folklore.