What’s in a Name? The Tesla

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sent this bulletin at 07/10/2023 08:40 AM EDT
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Taking Measure Blog

What's in a Name? The Tesla

Header image of Nikola Tesla, electricity, and an MRI machine

Do you enjoy flipping on the light switch or plugging in that favorite electrical device? Well, you can thank Nikola Tesla — born 167 years ago today — for that amazing invention. 

You may think of Thomas Edison as the main pioneer in electricity. But Nikola Tesla brought us alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity that is widely used in our homes and buildings today. As the name implies, alternating current reverses direction at regular intervals, and it turns out that it’s much better for moving electric power over long distances. 

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Renaissance-style illustration shows Blaise Pascal in three-quarter view with long dark hair

Under Pressure: Blaise Pascal, the Barometer and Bike Tires

June 14, 2023

You know a scientist has made it when they have a unit of measure named after them. 

The “pascal” is named for Blaise Pascal — a French mathematician, scientist and philosopher. We commemorate his 400th birthday on June 19 with some interesting notes about his scientific contributions that remain relevant today. 

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