Whose inventions helped electrify the world?

The electrification of the modern world owes much to two rivals. Thomas Edison, a prolific American inventor with over 1,000 patents, developed a long-lasting incandescent light bulb in 1879 and built the first commercial electric power system, delivering direct current (DC). Nikola Tesla, a brilliant Serbian-American engineer, championed alternating current (AC), which can be transmitted efficiently over long distances. Backed by George Westinghouse, AC won the so-called “War of the Currents” and became the global standard for power grids. Tesla also pioneered work in wireless technology and rotating magnetic fields. Together, their innovations lit homes and powered industry worldwide.