He was "a child of light," his mother said, because when Nikola was born in July 1857 in present-day Croatia, a lightning bolt struck nearby. Electricity became the great passion of the brilliant researcher, who conducted his first experiments at the age of five.

Throughout his life, he registered over 280 patents. Among his inventions are the lightning rod, the tachometer, and the remote control. He is credited with the development of alternating current, as it is delivered from our sockets today.