Tanya Weaver looks back at the creation of the first electric transformer, the birth of the internet and a vital link between oceans.

193 years ago

Bright spark

On 29 August 1831, Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, the principles of which are used in many applications today, from inductive chargers and transformers to electric motors and generators.

Born in 1791 in Southwark, Faraday received very little schooling but made up for it with hands-on tinkering and experimentation. Most of this took place in the basement laboratory of the Royal Institution where he was a laboratory assistant.

Having already conducted a series of experiments that built on the discovery of electromagnetism by Danish chemist Hans Christian Ørsted, Faraday carried out one further test that led to his breakthrough.

Using a rudimentary insulated induction ring device, featuring coils of wire wound around opposite sides, he found that when he passed an electric current through one coil, a momentary...