Are you ready to be blinded by science?
The Museum of Discovery recently announced their plans to debut a Guinness World Record musical bi-polar tesla coil.
No idea what we just said? Let’s start with Nikola Tesla. He’s the guy who created the alternating current system of electricity that we know, love and use on the daily. Shockingly, this is where the tesla coil gets its name. These coils create those high-voltage electricity lightning bolts you thought only existed in the movies.
The tesla coil coming to the MoD will be able to produce 250,000 volts (yikes) and will share the world record with a coil at the Hands On Regional Museum in Johnson City, Tennessee. Built by Goodchild Engineering in Arizona, the coil will be donated to the MoD through a grant from the General Electric Foundation by the founder and president of Tesla Coil Museum Exhibit Program, Richard Mathias.
“This world-record tesla coil will literally illuminate the work of this pivotal inventor and help the Museum of Discovery successfully fulfill its mission of igniting a passion for science, technology and math in our very interactive, hands-on environment,” said MoD CEO Kelley Bass in a press release. “We are grateful to Richard Mathias and the GE Foundation for making this opportunity possible for our museum and our visitors.”
The shiny new toy (joking, definitely not a toy) will debut on July 4, complete with its own brand of fireworks, and will perform a variety of songs. We did not make that up. They’re musical, remember?
If you can’t make it on opening day, it’s ok. The giant tesla coil will be on permanent display in the new Tesla Coil Theater.
And that is probably the coolest news we’ll give all week.
The Museum of Discovery is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit the MoD website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Still don’t believe us about the songs? You’re not ready for this.