The discovery of electricity and its protagonists

Electricity, one of the key pillars of modern science and technology, was not discovered at a single moment or by a single person. Its development is the result of the contributions of many scientists throughout history.

The earliest signs of electricity's existence can be traced back to ancient Greece, when the philosopher Thales of Miletus observed that rubbing amber with wool could attract small objects. However, the true understanding of electrical phenomena began centuries later.

In the 18th century, the American scientist Benjamin Franklin conducted the famous kite experiment, demonstrating that lightning was a form of electricity. His research laid the foundation for the development of lightning rods.

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist, invented the voltaic pile, the first device capable of generating a sustained electric current. His work opened the door to the production and storage of electricity.

Other breakthroughs came with André-Marie Ampère, whose studies on electromagnetism led to the development of the concept of electric current and the creation of the ampere unit of measurement, and with Michael Faraday, who discovered electromagnetic induction in 1831. His work on electric and magnetic fields led to the development of electric generators, which are fundamental to the production of energy.

In the 19th century, Nikola Tesla revolutionised electrical transmission with the development of alternating current, which enabled the efficient transport of electricity over long distances. His work significantly influenced the modern electrical system. Thomas Alva Edison also made significant contributions by improving the incandescent electric light bulb and developing electricity generation and distribution systems for commercial applications.

In terms of contributions by women scientists, Marie Curie, although best known for her studies on radioactivity, also explored the effects of electricity on different materials. More recently, researchers such as Lene Hau have worked on the control of light and electricity in new technological applications.

Thanks to these and many other people, electricity has evolved from a mysterious phenomenon to become the basis of our daily lives, driving fields such as:

• Communication and technology: It allows us to use mobile phones, computers, and the internet, connecting us to people anywhere in seconds.
• Transport: From electric trains to hybrid cars and the growing adoption of electric vehicles, electricity is revolutionising we get around.
• Health and medicine: It is essential for hospitals and clinics, where it powers diagnostic equipment, life-support machines, and advanced technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging.
• Industry and production: Without electricity, factories and businesses would halt. From manufacturing to artificial intelligence, everything depends on it.
• Home and quality of life: It provides lighting, heating, cooling, and entertainment. Imagine a day without electricity- no light, no appliances, no connection… quite difficult, right?
• Research and development: Electricity allows us to study the cosmos, develop new renewable energy, and explore fields such as robotics and quantum computing.

We are becoming more dependent on electricity every day, and its impact will continue to grow with advances such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and sustainable energy.