Random history time!
Subject:
Nikola Tesla.War clouds were again darkening Europe. On 11 July 1934 the headline on the front page of the New York Times read, "TESLA, AT 78, BARES NEW 'DEATH BEAM.'" The article reported that the new invention "will send concentrated beams of particles through the free air, of such tremendous energy that they will bring down a fleet of 10,000 enemy airplanes at a distance of 250 miles..." Tesla stated that the death beam would make war impossible by offering every country an "invisible Chinese wall."
Nikola Tesla drew the attention of the FBI and world leaders in his talk of the 'death beam'.
Later, he offered the supposed death beam as recompense to the hotel he was staying in. Without money to pay the bills, he had wracked up a $10,000 debt (in the 1930's!) to the hotel and become obsessed with a particular group of pigeons in the local park. After Tesla's death 6 years later, investigation went into the box holding the death beam, which was never opened as Tesla had stated that if the proper precautions were not met whilst opening, disaster would occur.
It turns out the crazy old man had faked it and the fancy box held simple, cheap electrical equipment. The debt of $10,000 was never paid.
There's a reason this man is legend!
Just a random discovery I thought I'd share.
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