A lot of great pieces of real technology were inspired (or, at least, look like) pieces of technology from science fiction of the past. Like the smartphones of today have a surreal resemblance to the ...

This is an electrostatic machine created around 1880 by British inventor James Wimshurst. Wimshurst machines were used during the 19th century in physics research. They were also occasionally used to ...

This electrostatic machine will spark from the round discharge electrodes when the crank is turned steadily. The crank rotates Plexiglas wheels that have small metal discs on them. Redistribution of ...

Although the basic concept of electrostatic attraction has been known since ancient times, it was only in the 17th century that scientists began to systematically investigate electrostatics. One of ...

People from ancient times knew that rubbing certain materials and then touching something caused a spark. Studying what is called electrostatics laid the groundwork for understanding electricity and ...

IN the August number of the Scientific American, there is a short account of the new electrostatic generator which is being built by R. J. van de Graaff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.