Blogpost on famous scientist: Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor, scientist, and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Below are his inventions which contributed to the world:

Carbon telephone transmitter
In 1877–78, Edison invented and developed the carbon microphone used in all telephones along with the Bell receiver until the 1980s. After protracted patent litigation, in 1892 a federal court ruled that Edison—and not Emile Berliner—was the inventor of the carbon microphone. The carbon microphone was also used in radio broadcasting and public address work through the 1920s.
  
Electric light
Building on the contributions of other developers over the previous three quarters of a century, Edison made significant improvements to the idea of incandescent light, and wound up in the public consciousness as "the inventor" of the lightbulb, and a prime mover in developing the necessary infrastructure for electric power.

Electric power distribution 
Edison patented a system for electricity distribution in 1880, which was essential to capitalize on the invention of the electric lamp. On December 17, 1880, Edison founded the Edison Illuminating Company. The company established the first investor-owned electric utility in 1882 on Pearl Street Station, New York City. It was on September 4, 1882, that Edison switched on his Pearl Street generating station's electrical power distribution system, which provided 110 volts direct current (DC) to 59 customers in lower Manhattan.

Fluoroscopy
Edison is credited with designing and producing the first commercially available fluoroscope, a machine that uses X-rays to take radiographs. Until Edison discovered that calcium tungstate fluoroscopy screens produced brighter images than the barium platinocyanide screens originally used by Wilhelm Röntgen, the technology was capable of producing only very faint images. The fundamental design of Edison's fluoroscope is still in use today, despite the fact that Edison himself abandoned the project after nearly losing his own eyesight and seriously injuring his assistant, Clarence Dally. Dally had made himself an enthusiastic human guinea pig for the fluoroscopy project and in the process been exposed to a poisonous dose of radiation. He later died of injuries related to the exposure. In 1903, a shaken Edison said "Don't talk to me about X-rays, I am afraid of them."


  
Media inventions
The key to Edison's fortunes was telegraphy. With knowledge gained from years of working as a telegraph operator, he learned the basics of electricity. This allowed him to make his early fortune with the stock ticker, the first electricity-based broadcast system. Edison patented the sound recording and reproducing phonograph in 1878. Edison was also granted a patent for the motion picture camera or "Kinetograph". He did the electromechanical design, while his employee W.K.L. Dickson, a photographer, worked on the photographic and optical development. Much of the credit for the invention belongs to Dickson. In 1891, Thomas Edison built a Kinetoscope, or peep-hole viewer. This device was installed in penny arcades, where people could watch short, simple films. The kinetograph and kinetoscope were both first publicly exhibited May 20, 1891.

Reflections on the whole year

The year is ending as we know it, and as such I think that I should write a reflection on the science topics covered, how I fared, and how this year has been different from all the others which I have gone through. In term1, there is no other way to describe this but I screwed up. Possibly the worst score I have gotten in my life. At that time, I thought that it was due to me having a weakness in chemistry, however soon I realized that it was not the topic, it was me, and with some work I managed to claw myself an B4 in term 2. Although it was partly that I did OK for the physics section, however I can see my chemistry improved tremendously. Finally, after more work and more time spent on revising, I finally managed to cling a A1 for science in term3, safely scoring a result almost equal to which I had scored last year. And finally, the final stretch is coming, and I shall have to work hard if I want to maintain, and even harder so that I will shine.

Term 4 Goals

As everyone in Singapore except the possibly the dead and the mentally retarded should know, the EOYs are coming. As such, 1 thing to think about now is about my goals for the last lap. I hope to maintain my A1 for science. I have thought ahead of what I need to do to do this. Firstly, I will have to focus on my weak link, namely chemistry. Also, I will have to touch up on the other sub-subjects which were taught over the year, namely ecology and physics. Finally, I will have to also heavily revise on the new subject taught, sexual reproduction, as this subject has not been tested so I have no idea how I will fair. I hope that I will be able to maintain my A1 and excel too. Also, I hope to excel in all subjects, and get into a decent class next year.

Term 3 Reflections

This term, I am proud to have finally be able to achieve an A1 for science. This terms, the topics covered during the test were ecology and physics. At first, before the test I was feeling nervous that I had missed out revising something, however as I took the test, I slowly grew confident of myself, and finally got an A1, scoring 34 out of 40, a feet I had once deemed impossible. I feel proud and accomplished, however, I cannot let my pride and arrogance get the better of me. The final battle of the year is approaching, and the last stand has to be made. In simple words EOYs are coming and I better buck up or I will be in trouble as deep as the sea.