Radio

Nikola Tesla pioneered radio technology through his groundbreaking work on wireless transmission of signals using electromagnetic waves, beginning in the early 1890s. He developed tuned resonant circuits, high-frequency oscillators, and four-circuit systems that allowed selective transmission and reception—key elements for reliable radio communication. Tesla demonstrated practical wireless signaling in lectures and experiments, including his 1898 radio-controlled boat, and envisioned global broadcasting of intelligence, time signals, and more. His patents predated and influenced later developments often credited to others.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1943 (Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. v. United States) invalidated key claims in Guglielmo Marconi's fundamental radio tuning patent, citing prior art from Tesla (along with Oliver Lodge and John Stone Stone), affirming Tesla's foundational contributions to resonant tuning and multi-circuit systems. While the decision addressed specific patent claims rather than declaring Tesla the sole "inventor of radio," it underscored his priority in essential radio principles. Tesla's innovations laid the groundwork for modern radio broadcasting, telephony, and wireless networks, transforming communication worldwide.