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5 crazy facts about Inventors that you should definitely know!

They seem completely withdrawn from the world that we ordinary people know, but what could you expect from someone who has devoted his entire life to study something?

Published: May 26, 2015 9:00 AM IST

By Mudabbir Ahmad

5 crazy facts about Inventors that you should definitely know!

Inventors are genius people, so much so that many of us may consider them borderline crazy! They seem completely withdrawn from the world that we ordinary people know, but what could you expect from someone who has devoted his entire life to study something? Anyways, these genius people are often known to do something that is absolutely bonkers! Here are 5 crazy facts about some inventors that you probably did not know. (Read: 5 little-known facts about your sleep that will delight you!)

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1. Edison electrocuted animals to prove Tesla’s AC current was dangerous. This actually happened during what is known as the ‘War of Currents’. During the 1880s, a dangerous rivalry grew between Thomas Edison and George Westington, owner of Westington Electric because of Edison’s advocacy of using direct current (DC) for electric power distribution against alternating current (AC) advocated by several European companies and Westinghouse Electric. Westington had acquired many of the patents by Nikola Tesla, and because of the already known rivalry between Edison and Tesla, the war of currents became fierce. As part of his strategy, Edison began spreading misinformation on fatal AC accidents and publicly killing animals.

2. The inventor of Vaseline used to eat a spoonful of it every day. Robert Chesebroughtravelled around the New York State,appearing publicly with his product that he claimed was a miracle. He would burn his skin with acid or a flame in front of the audience, then apply Vaseline to the injuries as well as show past injuries to prove how useful his product was. He even claimed that he used to eat one teaspoon of it every day. Chesebrough lived a good and healthy 96 years!

3. A 10-Year-Old Accidentally Created in 2012 a New Molecule in Science Class: Tetranitratoxycarbon. The molecule has not yet been synthesized, but is hypothetically possible and was discovered by 10-year old Clara Lazen, a fifth-grader in Kansas City, Missouri when her teacher was giving a class on molecules using ball-and-stick models. Clara is now credited as the co-author of the scientific paper on the molecule!

4. Rudolf Diesel, who invented the Diesel engine, committed suicide in 1913 because he didn’t think his invention would be successful. A German engineer, Diesel committed suicide by jumping into the sea from a ship he was travelling on. His body, which was beyond recognition, was found by a Dutch boat a couple of days later. Diesel could only be identified from his belongings

5. No one knows who invented the fire hydrant because its patent was burned in a fire! Though it is widely believed that a certain Frederick Graff, Sr., Chief Engineer of the Philadelphia Water Works invented the fire hydrant around 1801, but there is no proof of it because, ironically, the patent office in Washington, D.C. was destroyed in a fire in the year 1836! Image Credit: Facebook

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