21 ms·

Freedom of Information Release on Nikola Tesla (2011)

• away2017throw 9y ago
  Definitely incomplete, questionable whether intact.
• hari_seldon_ 9y ago
  Nikola* Sorry for being picky about it, but I always think that we should respect people enough to spell their names correctly!
  • huntermeyer 9y ago
    Thanks. Fixed it. I'm glad you're always thinking about respecting others.
  • m0skit0 9y ago
    Wouldn't expect anything else but exactitude from Mr. Hari Seldon
  • gambiting 9y ago
    I get similarly annoyed that Maria Skłodowska-Curie is known only as Maria Curie pretty much everywhere, even though she was very particular about including the Polish portion of her surname on all of her work.
    • dEnigma 9y ago
      Or even "Marie Curie"
      • yoz-y 9y ago
        From personal experience, the French have little regard for native writing or pronunciation of names.
    • m0skit0 9y ago
      But in France the wives get the husband's last name when they marry, so Maria Curia is not that inaccurate.
• subie 9y ago
  Distraction from the upcoming JFK dump. half /s
  • mici 9y ago
    These documents were released a year ago, and were declassified in 1980.
• pdog 9y ago
  Interestingly, "John G. Trump" (on pages 178-185) is President Trump's uncle. He examined Tesla's papers and reported his findings to the FBI.
  • CharlesDodgson 9y ago
    I smell a conspiracy theory!
    • ForRealsies 9y ago
      Do you even John Titor?
      • CharlesDodgson 9y ago
        confused.biz
        • moviuro 9y ago
          El. Psy. Congroo. [0] [0] https://myanimelist.net/anime/9253/Steins_Gate https://myanimelist.net/anime/9253/Steins_Gate
      • redbeard0x0a 9y ago
        John Titor was a Time Traveler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Titor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Titor). If you like anime, Steins;Gate uses John Titor as a plot device (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=7729 http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=7729)
    • puranjay 9y ago
      This is where the notion that Trump is a time traveler emerged. According to the conspiracy theorists, Tesla had developed a time machine, which was later discovered by John G. Trump and entrusted to his nephew, Donald J. Trump.
      • 9y ago
• qxzw 9y ago
  Another Croatian - Serbian conflict regarding his ancestry in 5,4,3 ... Kidding aside, what would people like him achieve if they had resources of today, computers and internet...
  • ivcha 9y ago
    there's no conflict there (not that it's too relevant, but his ancestry is quite clear)... I guess there will always be people who like creating conflicts :)
  • sacheendra 9y ago
    Watch Youtube and use Facebook and Twitter. :-P
  • yosito 9y ago
    They'd probably have a really good Instagram story.
  • foobarian 9y ago
    Reminds me of a crackpot theory popular in Serbia where it is thought that the Serbs took control of "Tesla's secret weapon based on the formula v^3=0." The weapon is alleged to allow remote mind control [e.g. 1, in Serbian] and is probably inspired by the death rays/particle beam weapons Tesla wrote about. [2] [1] http://www.intermagazin.rs/teslino-super-oruzje-izum-koji-kontrolise-svet-na-daljinu-u-srbiji/ http://www.intermagazin.rs/teslino-super-oruzje-izum-koji-ko... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleforce https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleforce
• sschueller 9y ago
  Why does the FBI have all these files on Nikola Tesla?
  • peterwwillis 9y ago
    Read the second page.
  • c517402 9y ago
    My paraphrase of page two with a direct quote: He possibly did stuff important to us and "other nations controlled by insane dictators." We should consider watching him and protecting him.
• salqadri 9y ago
  Check out this great 3 minute video to know who this man was and the conflict he got into with Thomas Edison: https://youtu.be/iEJNJ0rFSe8 https://youtu.be/iEJNJ0rFSe8
  • mikejb 9y ago
    I cannot speak for the entire video, I only looked up the elephant story, but that seems to be told inaccurately. I might agree with the general sentiment (Edison is a jerk), but wouldn't quote any of the anecdotes told as fact.
• rando444 9y ago
  The title is misleading. The FBI 'released' these documents to the public over a year ago.
  • sctb 9y ago
    Thanks, we've updated the title from the submitted “FBI Releases Nikola Tesla Documents”.
• lettergram 9y ago
  Most of this doesn't appear to be confiscated documents, but rather just letters sent to the FBI and a few scanned (covers of) books. The 3rd part of the release is somewhat interesting as it's about flying saucers (from a news letter). It has the statement(s): > This letter will not reach you in time to sight a flying saucer over New York on the night of June 10, from 10pm to 1am It then goes on to discuss "space people". Honestly, I'm wondering what exactly they released, as this was just a letter sent to Nikola Tesla... So it's not all that interesting, besides getting insight(s) into some tabloids of the time. Nothing really all that juicy, unless I'm missing something. Part 1: https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%2001%20of%2003/view https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%200... Part 2: https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%2002%20of%2003/view Part 3: https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%2003%20of%2003/view https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%200...
  • lgats 9y ago
    Part 2: https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%2002%20of%2003/view https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%200...
  • baldfat 9y ago
    It was interesting that the FBI was taking the last 10 years of Telsa's life as possibly serious. Man people figured he went mad in his early 70s and didn't really do anything for the last 10 years of his life scientifically significant.
• neves 9y ago
  249 pages! Other comments said that it was released a year ago. Can someone write about the juicy stuff?
  • dmix 9y ago
    The stamp on the papers say it was marked unclassified in 1980-82, which would have been ~40yrs after most of the papers dates (and his death). Was it really only released a year ago?
    • ivanche 9y ago
      Well you may believe me or not, but this was in circulation at one of the Serbian BBS around 15 years ago.
    • jmcdiesel 9y ago
      Just because it was unclassified doesn't mean it was released... Im sure there are literally millions of documents that have been "unclassified" due to time, but have never seen the light of day since then. Its not like they broadcast when something is unclassified
• staltz 9y ago
  Why do I see "We're sorry... The request has been blocked." when I try to open this site? Anyone else see it? I can see it normally when I access through Tor.
  • kowdermeister 9y ago
    It's the FBI, man :) Your TOR exit point is probably blacklisted ;)
• stemc43 9y ago
  I wanna see time travel research and Tump connections: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4754000/Late-1800-s-books-spooky-connections-present-day-Trumps.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4754000/Late-1800-s-...
• two2two 9y ago
  > Exhibit M. Part 03 of 03 pg. 43. The article further discusses the subject of wind, tides, lightning, and water power as a source of commercial energy. The last sentence of this memorandum states: "With my wireless system, it is practicable to transmit electrical energy at a distance of twelve thousand miles with a loss not exceeding 5 per cent. I can conceive of no advances which would be more desirable at this time and more beneficial to the further progress of mankind." No further details are given, or the exhibit itself, but interesting nonetheless. https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%2003%20of%2003/view https://vault.fbi.gov/nikola-tesla/Nikola%20Tesla%20Part%200...
  • woodrowbarlow 9y ago
    i believe this is referencing some of his ideas on global wireless power transfer. > Early on he seemed to borrow from the ideas of Mahlon Loomis, proposing a system composed of balloons to suspend transmitting and receiving electrodes in the air above 30,000 feet (9,100 m) in altitude, where he thought the pressure would allow him to send high voltages (millions of volts) long distances. [...] Experiments he conducted [at Colorado Springs in 1899] with a large coil operating in the megavolts range, as well as observations he made of the electronic noise of lightning strikes, led him to conclude incorrectly that he could use the entire globe of the Earth to conduct electrical energy. > His observations also led him to believe a high voltage used in a coil at an elevation of a few hundred feet would "break the air stratum down", eliminating the need for miles of cable hanging on balloons to create his atmospheric return circuit. Tesla would go on the next year to propose a "World Wireless System" that was to broadcast both information and power worldwide. In 1901, at Shoreham, New York he attempted to construct a large high-voltage wireless power station, now called Wardenclyffe Tower, but by 1904 investment dried up and the facility was never completed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_power_transfer#Tesla https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_power_transfer#Tesla i've heard a claim that the idea described in the latter quote would effectively involve "igniting the ionosphere" which would permanently change the color of the sky, but i can't speak to the accuracy of that.
  • kaputsmack 9y ago
    Well the level of conspiracy claimed would never be publicized by the FBI. IF any of the wildest theories on Tesla are true, then his files would be hidden in places FOIA will never reach. These documents are probably meant to discredit conspiracy theories. There might be some truth to some conspiracies, and people will release "noise" in order to discredit them completely. We all know Tesla went against powerful financial interests, and they paid back real good, destroying his reputation using the dirtiest character assassination tactics there are, involving sex. Note that sexual character assassination is the favorite method of discrediting someone. The false rape accusation against Assange should be a reminder that we still live under the same boots that stepped on Tesla 100+ years ago. Back then they spread all sorts of nasty sexual rumours against Tesla. We haven't evolved very much 100+ years later, and we're still bailing out banks.
• NicoJuicy 9y ago
  Everytime i read something about Nikola Tesla, i go back reading: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla
  • jonstokes 9y ago
    Please don't get your history from The Oatmeal. If you want to read a real account of what Edison actually did, the opening chapters of this classic are great: https://www.amazon.com/Networks-Power-Electrification-1880-1930-Softshell/dp/0801846145 https://www.amazon.com/Networks-Power-Electrification-1880-1...
    • NicoJuicy 9y ago
      I don't consider it a fact, but a fun read :)
  • matteuan 9y ago
    I like the oatmeal, but that comic is just a collection of urban myths about Tesla. http://edisontechcenter.org/tesladebunked.html http://edisontechcenter.org/tesladebunked.html
    • rm999 9y ago
      > Mr. Inman [author of The Oatmeal], like many comedians seems to be fundamentally unhappy and finds an outlet through humor. Oddly enough his behavior is similar to Tesla's in that he reacts in a nasty fashion if someone challenges his ideas Yikes, got a less biased source? It's 2017, it's sad the emotional feud between Tesla and Edison continues like this.
      • nulagrithom 9y ago
        Wow, the full text of that paragraph is even worse: > Interestingly enough one of the largest sources of exaggerated Tesla history in the last few years was a cartoonist (Mr. Inman) who runs the website "The Oatmeal". A cartoonist (a guy with no engineering, legal or historian background) born in 1982 on the wrong side of the continent felt the liberty of making passionate statements about New York's electrical history based on crap he read on the internet. After a Forbes article by Alex Knapp about the myths of Tesla inspired by this Edison Tech Center article came out, the cartoonist attacks Knapp in the arrogant and cynical style typically demonstrated by the worst of US-born Millennials. Mr. Inman, like many comedians seems to be fundamentally unhappy and finds an outlet through humor. Oddly enough his behavior is similar to Tesla's in that he reacts in a nasty fashion if someone challenges his ideas, even when they mean well.
• mabbo 9y ago
  It's important to keep in mind that near the end of his days, Tesla sure seemed to be experiencing some mental illness. He made wild claims that were never quite backed up by proof, claims that even now no one seems to believe were actually possible. It's a sad end to a brilliant mind. But then, when you're the FBI and WW2 is ongoing, you pay attention when a famous and brilliant inventor claims to have death rays and super weapons.
  • readhn 9y ago
    He made wild claims that were never quite backed up by proof, claims that even now no one seems to believe were actually possible ------- when Leonardo da vinci sketched out a parachute or a helicopter-looking self propelling device prototypes that took 500 years to actually build - what did contemporaries think of him? who are we to judge a great mind? we simply cant. yes he might have gone mad, but there is a very fine line between madness and brilliance and its often blurred. all we can do is take these ideas and test/iterate/test. id rather bet on a horse that is capable of running than on a just born foal.
    • QAPereo 9y ago
      when Leonardo da vinci sketched out a parachute or a helicopter-looking self propelling device prototypes that took 500 years to actually build - what did contemporaries think of him? A lot; he was widely recognized as a genius in his own time. Sadly, his helicopter wouldn't have worked, and he never sketched an ICE.
      • readhn 9y ago
        as well as Tesla was recognized during his lifetime. Plenty of folks thought da vinci was crazy too. helicopter prototype was off (just needed different shape propeller, additional stabilizing propeller and proper weight distribution), but it was on a correct development path. parachute design was correct as was demonstrated in 2000. (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgE0_zA9lEU/U29iF1bk9QI/AAAAAAAAEuE/zldPSz30E-I/s1600/DaVinci-Parachute002.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgE0_zA9lEU/U29iF1bk9QI/AAAAAAAAEu...) what if tesla's highly speculated work is even 50% close? we had thousands of electric cars manufactured and sold in USA 100 years ago (stop and think about it for a second: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/80/34/c5/8034c522dd78fb4b3bfdb4eeb6ec1f5a.gif https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/80/34/c5/8034...). wireless transmission of electricity/energy could put us on a completely different path as a humanity (as well as completely change political and business landscape worldwide).
• dkfmn 9y ago
  I don't have high hopes for historical accuracy but i'm excited to see The Current War which puts some of these topics to film:https://youtu.be/wMECv6yLOFM https://youtu.be/wMECv6yLOFM
  • cornchips 9y ago
    I'm excited for another Weinstein ensemble, but we'll have wait http://variety.com/2017/film/news/the-current-war-postponed-weinstein-company-1202590094/ http://variety.com/2017/film/news/the-current-war-postponed-... :-)
• morisy 9y ago
  Raw FBI FOIA files and articles about them on some other major figures including Richard Feynman: https://www.muckrock.com/project/subjects-matter-fbi-files-10/ https://www.muckrock.com/project/subjects-matter-fbi-files-1...
• jonstaab 9y ago
  For anyone interested in a really good biography on Tesla, this [0] is the best one I've read. It's written by John J. O'Neill, a journalist who knew Tesla personally for 30 years or so IIRC. It sticks to the facts, eschewing the various myths about aliens and such that tend to stick to him, and it covers his whole life, from what is known of his childhood all the way through his death. It's a super interesting read. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Genius-Life-Nikola-Tesla-ebook/dp/B00295RQQU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1508860080&sr=8-2&keywords=nikola+tesla+biography+by+John https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Genius-Life-Nikola-Tesla-ebo...
  • cr0sh 9y ago
    That's one of the biographies I've read about Tesla, and which I referenced in an earlier comment I made upthread. It should be noted that others have said it isn't without bias. It was an excellent read, though.
• hakimi94 9y ago
  d
• aflex 9y ago
  It's hard to see those documents. Is there a digital version of those papers or has anyone translated it to a readable font?