[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.64,0:00:11.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the dawn of the 19th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.00,0:00:12.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a cellar in Mayfair,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.72,0:00:17.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the most famous scientist\Nof the time, Humphry Davy,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.04,0:00:21.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,built an extraordinary piece\Nof electrical equipment.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.00,0:00:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Four metres wide, twice as long
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.60,0:00:27.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and containing stinking stacks\Nof acid and metal,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.12,0:00:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it had been created to pump out\Nmore electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.56,0:00:33.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than had ever been possible before.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.20,0:00:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was in fact the biggest battery
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.04,0:00:38.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the world had ever seen.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.08,0:00:41.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With it, Davy was about to propel us
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.56,0:00:43.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into a new age.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.40,0:01:00.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That moment would take place at\Na lecture at the Royal Institution,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.80,0:01:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in front of hundreds\Nof London's great and good.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.80,0:01:07.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Filled with anticipation,\Nthey packed the seats,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.56,0:01:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hoping to witness a new\Nand exciting electrical wonder.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.16,0:01:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what they would see that night\Nwould be something truly unique.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.08,0:01:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Something they would remember\Nfor the rest of their lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.28,0:01:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Using just two simple carbon rods,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.64,0:01:29.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Humphry Davy was about to unleash\Nthe true potential of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.96,0:01:39.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Electricity is one of nature's\Nmost awesome phenomena,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.48,0:01:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the most powerful manifestation\Nof it we ever see
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.80,0:01:45.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is lightning.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.40,0:01:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the story of how\Nwe first dreamed of controlling
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.36,0:01:54.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this primal force of nature,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.44,0:01:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how we would ultimately\Nbecome its master.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.84,0:02:02.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a 300-year tale
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.12,0:02:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of dazzling leaps of imagination\Nand extraordinary experiments.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.84,0:02:11.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tens of thousands of volts\Npassed across his body
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.28,0:02:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and through the end of a lamp\Nthat he was holding.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.92,0:02:17.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a story of a maverick geniuses
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.92,0:02:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who used electricity\Nto light our cities,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.24,0:02:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to communicate across the seas\Nand through the air,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.68,0:02:28.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to create modern industry and\Nto give us the digital revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.20,0:02:37.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in this film, we'll tell the\Nstory of the very first scientists
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.20,0:02:41.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who started to unlock\Nthe mysteries of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.76,0:02:44.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's as though\Nthere's something alive in there.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.08,0:02:47.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They studied\Nits curious link to life,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.92,0:02:51.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,built strange and powerful\Ninstruments to create it
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.16,0:02:54.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even tamed lightning itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.96,0:03:01.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was these men who truly laid\Nthe foundations of the modern world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.12,0:03:04.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it all started with a spark.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.56,0:03:24.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine our world\Nwithout electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.44,0:03:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would be dark,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.40,0:03:29.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cold and quiet.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.92,0:03:35.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In many ways, it would be like\Nthe beginning of the 18th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.16,0:03:38.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where our story begins.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.32,0:03:46.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the Royal Society in London.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.44,0:03:51.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the early 1700s,\Nafter years in the wilderness,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.28,0:03:54.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Isaac Newton\Nfinally took control of it
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.24,0:03:57.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after the death of his arch-enemy,\NRobert Hooke.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.76,0:04:03.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Newton brought in his own people\Nto the key jobs,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.56,0:04:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to help shore up his new position.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.16,0:04:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The new head of demonstrations there\Nwas 35-year-old Francis Hauksbee.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.60,0:04:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Notes from the Royal Society in 1705
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.72,0:04:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reveal how hard Hauksbee tried
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.08,0:04:22.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stamp his personality\Non its weekly meetings,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.24,0:04:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,producing ever more spectacular\Nexperiments to impress his masters.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.52,0:04:35.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In November, he came up with this -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.00,0:04:37.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a rotating glass sphere.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.64,0:04:42.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was able to remove the air\Nfrom inside it using a new machine -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.28,0:04:44.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the air pump.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.28,0:04:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On his machine, a handle allowed him\Nto spin the sphere.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.28,0:04:56.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One by one,\Nthe candles in the room were put out
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.16,0:05:00.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Francis placed his hand\Nagainst the sphere.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.76,0:05:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The audience were about to see\Nsomething amazing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.80,0:05:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'Inside the glass sphere,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.08,0:05:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'a strange ethereal light\Nbegan to form,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.28,0:05:21.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'dancing around his hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.08,0:05:23.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'A light\Nno-one had ever seen before.'
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.08,0:05:27.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's fantastic.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.76,0:05:30.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see a beautiful blue glow,\Nit's just marking out
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.40,0:05:34.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the shape of my hands,\Nbut then going right round the ball.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.20,0:05:36.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's as though\Nthere's something alive in there.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.08,0:05:43.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's difficult to really understand
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.96,0:05:47.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why this dancing blue light\Nmeant so much,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.96,0:05:50.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we have to bear in mind\Nthat at the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.44,0:05:55.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,natural phenomena like this were\Nseen to be the work of the Almighty.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.08,0:05:59.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was still a period when,\Neven in Isaac Newton's theory,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.68,0:06:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,God was constantly intervening\Nin the conduct of the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.16,0:06:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It made sense for a lot of people
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.36,0:06:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to interpret natural phenomena\Nas acts of God.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.60,0:06:16.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when a mere mortal\Nmeddled with God's work,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.68,0:06:20.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was almost beyond\Nrational comprehension.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.84,0:06:25.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hauksbee never realised the full\Nsignificance of his experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.40,0:06:27.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He lost interest\Nin his glowing sphere
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.44,0:06:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and spent the last few years\Nof his life
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.96,0:06:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,building ever more\Nspectacular experiments
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.96,0:06:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for Isaac Newton\Nto test his other theories.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.76,0:06:39.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He never realised\Nthat he had unwittingly started
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.24,0:06:41.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an electrical revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.32,0:06:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before Hauksbee, electricity\Nhad been merely a curiosity.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.68,0:06:55.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The ancient Greeks rubbed amber,\Nwhich they called electron,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.92,0:06:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get small shocks.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.80,0:07:00.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even Queen Elizabeth I marvelled
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.96,0:07:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at static electricity's power\Nto lift feathers.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.44,0:07:09.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now Hauksbee's machine
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.84,0:07:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could make electricity\Nat the turn of a handle,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.68,0:07:15.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you could see it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.56,0:07:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps even more importantly,\Nhis invention coincided
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.44,0:07:25.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the birth of a new movement\Nsweeping across Europe
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.32,0:07:28.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called the Enlightenment.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.04,0:07:31.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enlightened intellectuals\Nused reason to question the world
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.84,0:07:35.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and their legacy\Nwas radical politics,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.28,0:07:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,iconoclastic art
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.68,0:07:41.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and natural philosophy, or science.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.20,0:07:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But ironically,\NHauksbee's new machine
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.60,0:07:52.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wasn't immediately embraced\Nby most of these intellectuals.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.76,0:07:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But instead,\Nby conjurers and street magicians.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.64,0:08:00.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those with an interest\Nin electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.28,0:08:02.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called themselves electricians.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.92,0:08:12.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One story tells of a dinner party\Nattended by an Austrian Count.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.24,0:08:15.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The electrician had placed\Nsome feathers on the table
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.36,0:08:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then charged up a glass rod\Nwith a silk handkerchief.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.96,0:08:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He then astonished the guests\Nby lifting up the feathers
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.72,0:08:25.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the rod.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.28,0:08:29.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He then went on to charge himself up
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.76,0:08:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using one of Hauksbee's\Nelectrical machines.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.84,0:08:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He gave the guests electric shocks,\Npresumably to squeals of delight.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.28,0:08:42.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for his piece de resistance,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.64,0:08:45.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he placed a glass of cognac\Nin the centre of the table,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.84,0:08:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,charged himself up again
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.24,0:08:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lit it with a spark\Nfrom the tip of his finger.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.40,0:08:57.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a trick called\Nthe electrical beatification,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.72,0:09:01.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which the victim sits\Non an insulated chair
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.28,0:09:05.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and above his head\Nhangs a metal crown
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.00,0:09:07.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that doesn't quite touch his head.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.80,0:09:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then if the crown\Nis electrified,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.52,0:09:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you get an electric discharge\Naround the crown
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.24,0:09:17.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that looks exactly like a halo,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.32,0:09:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is why it's called\Nthe electric beatification.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.32,0:09:27.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As England and the rest of Europe\Nwent electricity crazy,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.56,0:09:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the spectacles grew bigger.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.20,0:09:32.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The more curious electricians
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.56,0:09:35.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,started to ask\Nmore profound questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.64,0:09:39.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only how can we make\Nour shows bigger and better,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.08,0:09:42.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but how can we control\Nthis amazing power?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.88,0:09:46.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And for some, can this incredible\Nelectrical fire
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.80,0:09:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do more than just entertain?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.24,0:10:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the first early breakthroughs\Nwould never have happened
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.12,0:10:05.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had it not been\Nfor a terrible accident.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.24,0:10:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is Charterhouse\Nin the centre of London.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.44,0:10:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over the past 400 years,\Nit's been a charitable home
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.24,0:10:19.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for young orphans\Nand elderly gentleman.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.00,0:10:24.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And sometime in the 1720s, it also\Nbecame home to one Stephen Gray.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.12,0:10:32.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stephen Gray had been a successful\Nsilk dyer from Canterbury.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.88,0:10:36.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was used to seeing\Nelectric sparks leap from the silk
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.44,0:10:39.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they fascinated him.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.36,0:10:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, a crippling accident\Nended his career
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.52,0:10:45.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and left him destitute.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.80,0:10:49.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then he was offered\Na new life here at Charterhouse
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.00,0:10:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with it the time to perform\Nhis own electrical experiments.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.84,0:11:04.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here at Charterhouse, possibly in\Nthis very room, the Great Chamber,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.64,0:11:07.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stephen Gray built a wooden frame
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.96,0:11:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and from the top beam he suspended\Ntwo swings using silk rope.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.56,0:11:18.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He also had a device like this,\Na Hauksbee machine
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.08,0:11:20.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for generating static electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.16,0:11:25.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, with a large audience\Nin attendance,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.76,0:11:29.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he got one of the orphan boys\Nwho lived here at Charterhouse
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.08,0:11:31.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to lie across the two swings.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.84,0:11:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gray placed some gold leaf\Nin front of him.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.68,0:11:52.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He then generated electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.84,0:11:55.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and charged the boy\Nthrough a connecting rod.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.92,0:12:17.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gold leaf, even feathers,\Nleapt to the boy's fingers.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.52,0:12:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of the audience\Nclaimed they could even see sparks
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.60,0:12:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,flying out from his fingertips.\NShow business indeed.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.04,0:12:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to the curious\Nand inquiring mind of Stephen Gray,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.84,0:12:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this said something else as well -
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.48,0:12:37.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,electricity could move,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.72,0:12:42.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the machine to the boy's body,\Nthrough to his hands.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.52,0:12:47.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the silk rope stopped it dead.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.24,0:12:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It meant the mysterious\Nelectrical fluid
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.56,0:12:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could flow through some things...
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.96,0:12:57.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,..but not through others.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.28,0:13:10.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It led Gray to divide the world into\Ntwo different kinds of substances.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.32,0:13:14.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He called them\Ninsulators and conductors.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.32,0:13:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Insulators held\Nelectric charge within them
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.08,0:13:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and wouldn't let it move,\Nlike the silk or hair,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.72,0:13:23.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,glass and resin.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.56,0:13:27.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Whereas conductors allowed\Nelectricity to flow through them,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.44,0:13:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the boy or metals.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.28,0:13:35.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a distinction\Nwhich is still crucial even today.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.56,0:13:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just think of these electric pylons.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.12,0:13:47.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They work on the same principle\Nthat Gray deduced
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.00,0:13:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nearly 300 years ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.76,0:13:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The wires are conductors.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.56,0:13:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The glass and ceramic objects
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.92,0:14:01.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the wire and the metal\Nof the pylon are insulators
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.04,0:14:03.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that stop the electricity\Nleaking from the wires
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.92,0:14:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into the pylon\Nand down to the earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.28,0:14:14.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're just like the silk ropes\Nin Gray's experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.32,0:14:20.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back in the 1730s,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.28,0:14:24.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gray's experiment\Nmay have astounded all who saw it,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.40,0:14:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it had a frustrating drawback.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.64,0:14:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Try as he might, Gray\Ncouldn't contain the electricity\Nhe was generating for long.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.52,0:14:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It leapt from the machine\Nto the boy and was quickly gone.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.24,0:14:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The next step in our story came
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.56,0:14:45.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we learnt\Nhow to store electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.96,0:14:48.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that would take place\Nnot in Britain,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.24,0:14:50.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but across the Channel\Nin mainland Europe.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.00,0:15:09.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Across the Channel,\Nelectricians were just as busy
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.00,0:15:13.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as their British counterparts and\None centre for electrical research
Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.80,0:15:16.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was here in Leiden, Holland.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.80,0:15:22.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was here that a professor\Ncame up with an invention
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.12,0:15:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that many still regard as the most\Nsignificant of the 18th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.40,0:15:30.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one that in some form or another\Ncan still be found
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.32,0:15:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in almost every\Nelectrical device today.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.92,0:15:38.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That professor\Nwas Pieter van Musschenbroek.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.44,0:15:40.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unlike Hauksbee and Gray,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.64,0:15:43.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Musschenbroek\Nwas born into academia.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.84,0:15:48.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But ironically enough,\Nhis breakthrough
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.76,0:15:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came not because\Nof his rigorous science,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:51.92,0:15:54.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because\Nof a simple human mistake.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:59.52,0:16:03.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was trying to find a way\Nto store electrical charge,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:03.44,0:16:07.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ready for his demonstrations.\NAnd you can almost hear
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.16,0:16:10.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his train of thought\Nas he tries to figure this out.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.44,0:16:16.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If electricity is a fluid\Nthat flows, a bit like water,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.64,0:16:22.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then maybe you can store it in the\Nsame way that you can store water.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:23.28,0:16:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Musschenbroek\Nwent to his laboratory
Dialogue: 0,0:16:26.68,0:16:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try to make a device\Nto store electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:31.92,0:16:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Musschenbroek started\Nto think literally.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:35.48,0:16:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He took a glass jar\Nand poured in some water.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:42.08,0:16:46.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He then placed inside it\Na length of conducting wire...
Dialogue: 0,0:16:48.36,0:16:52.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,..which was connected at the top\Nto a Hauksbee electric machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:54.12,0:17:00.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'Then he put the jar on an insulator\Nto help keep the charge in the jar.'
Dialogue: 0,0:17:00.04,0:17:05.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He then tried to pour\Nthe electricity into the jar
Dialogue: 0,0:17:05.04,0:17:08.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,produced by the machine via the wire
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.00,0:17:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down through into the water.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.44,0:17:16.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'But whatever he tried, the charge\Njust wouldn't stay in the jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:17.80,0:17:20.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'Then one day, by accident,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:20.52,0:17:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'he forgot to put the jar\Non the insulator,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:24.52,0:17:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'but charged it instead\Nwhile it was still in his hand.'
Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.80,0:17:37.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, holding the jar\Nwith one hand,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.16,0:17:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he touched the top with the other
Dialogue: 0,0:17:39.32,0:17:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and received\Nsuch a powerful electric shock,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:42.24,0:17:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was almost thrown to the ground.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:44.88,0:17:48.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He writes, "It's a new\Nbut terrible experiment
Dialogue: 0,0:17:48.84,0:17:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"which I advise you never to try.\NNor would I, who've experienced it
Dialogue: 0,0:17:53.40,0:17:56.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"and survived by the grace of God\Ndo it again
Dialogue: 0,0:17:56.44,0:17:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"for all the kingdom of France."
Dialogue: 0,0:17:58.96,0:18:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm going to heed his advice,\Nnot touch the top,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:02.40,0:18:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and instead see if I can get\Na spark off of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:11.80,0:18:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The sheer power of the electricity\Nwhich flew from the jar
Dialogue: 0,0:18:15.72,0:18:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was greater than any seen before.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:20.44,0:18:22.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even more surprisingly,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:22.32,0:18:27.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the jar could store that electricity\Nfor hours, even days.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:30.56,0:18:35.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in honour of the city where\NMusschenbroek made his discovery,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:35.56,0:18:38.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they called it the Leiden jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:40.12,0:18:44.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And its fame\Nswept across the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:44.00,0:18:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And very rapidly, from 1745\Nthrough the rest of the 1740s,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:48.32,0:18:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the news of this - it's called\Nthe Leiden jar - goes global.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:52.72,0:18:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It spreads from Japan in East Asia
Dialogue: 0,0:18:55.80,0:18:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to Philadelphia in eastern America.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:59.24,0:19:06.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It became one of the first quick,\Nglobalised, scientific news items.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:08.20,0:19:14.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But although the Leiden jar became\Na global electrical phenomenon,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:14.16,0:19:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no-one had the slightest\Nidea how it worked.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:18.48,0:19:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have a jar of electric fluid,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:20.44,0:19:24.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it turns out that you get\Na bigger shock from the jar
Dialogue: 0,0:19:24.64,0:19:29.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you allow the electric fluid\Nto drain away to the earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:29.48,0:19:33.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why is the shock bigger\Nif the jar's leaking?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:33.96,0:19:38.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why isn't the shock bigger if you\Nmake sure all the electric fluid
Dialogue: 0,0:19:38.24,0:19:39.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stays inside the jar?
Dialogue: 0,0:19:39.72,0:19:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was how mid-18th century\Nelectrical philosophers
Dialogue: 0,0:19:43.08,0:19:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were faced with this challenge.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:49.16,0:19:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Electricity was without doubt\Na fantastical wonder.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:54.56,0:19:56.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could shock and spark.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:56.88,0:19:59.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could now be stored\Nand moved around.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:59.56,0:20:03.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yet what electricity was,\Nhow it worked,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:03.24,0:20:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why it did all these things
Dialogue: 0,0:20:04.80,0:20:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was nothing less\Nthan a complete mystery.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:21.64,0:20:25.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within 10 years,\Na new breakthrough was to come
Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.32,0:20:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from an unexpected quarter,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:28.12,0:20:31.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From a man politically\Nand philosophically at war
Dialogue: 0,0:20:31.84,0:20:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the London establishment.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:34.76,0:20:38.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even more shockingly\Nfor the British electrical elite,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:38.60,0:20:42.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that man was merely a colonial.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:42.32,0:20:43.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An American.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:47.24,0:20:49.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This painting of Benjamin Franklin
Dialogue: 0,0:20:49.36,0:20:51.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hangs here at the\NRoyal Society in London.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:53.48,0:20:57.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franklin was a passionate supporter\Nof American emancipation
Dialogue: 0,0:20:57.96,0:21:00.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and saw the pursuit\Nof rational science,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:00.80,0:21:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and particularly electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:03.12,0:21:06.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a way of rolling back ignorance,\Nfalse idols
Dialogue: 0,0:21:06.80,0:21:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and ultimately his intellectually\Nelitist colonial masters.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:13.08,0:21:19.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is mixed with a profoundly\Negalitarian democratic idea
Dialogue: 0,0:21:19.00,0:21:21.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Franklin and his allies have,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:21.36,0:21:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is this is\Na phenomenon open to everyone.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:25.00,0:21:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's something that the elite\Ndoesn't really understand
Dialogue: 0,0:21:28.60,0:21:31.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we might be able\Nto understand it.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:31.56,0:21:34.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's something that the elite\Ncan't really control
Dialogue: 0,0:21:34.72,0:21:37.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we might be able to control.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:37.28,0:21:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here's something above all which\Nis the source of superstition.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:42.56,0:21:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we, rational, egalitarian,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:45.16,0:21:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,potentially democratic,\Nintellectuals,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:48.68,0:21:51.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we will be able to reason it out,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:51.96,0:21:56.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without appearing to be\Nthe slaves of magic or mystery.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:57.28,0:22:01.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Franklin decided to use\Nthe power of reason
Dialogue: 0,0:22:01.20,0:22:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to rationally explain what many
Dialogue: 0,0:22:03.36,0:22:05.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,considered a magical phenomenon...
Dialogue: 0,0:22:05.88,0:22:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lightning.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:07.12,0:22:11.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,THUNDER BOOMS
Dialogue: 0,0:22:11.76,0:22:15.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is probably one of the most\Nfamous scientific images
Dialogue: 0,0:22:15.80,0:22:17.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the 18th century.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:17.28,0:22:20.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It shows Benjamin Franklin,\Nthe heroic scientist,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:20.80,0:22:23.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,flying a kite in a storm,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:23.56,0:22:27.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,proving that lightning\Nis electrical.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:27.16,0:22:31.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But although Franklin\Nproposed this experiment,
Dialogue: 0,0:22:31.20,0:22:33.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he almost certainly\Nnever performed it.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:35.64,0:22:39.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Much more likely is that\Nhis most significant experiment
Dialogue: 0,0:22:39.92,0:22:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was another one which he proposed\Nbut didn't even conduct.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:43.60,0:22:47.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it didn't\Neven happen in America.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:47.40,0:22:50.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It took place here in a small\Nvillage north of Paris
Dialogue: 0,0:22:50.32,0:22:52.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called Marly La Ville.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:55.32,0:23:00.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The French adored Franklin,\Nespecially his\Nanti-British politics,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:00.96,0:23:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they took it upon themselves\Nto perform
Dialogue: 0,0:23:03.68,0:23:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his other lightning\Nexperiments without him.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:07.64,0:23:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've come to the very spot\Nwhere that experiment took place.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:19.52,0:23:23.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In May 1752, George Louis Leclerc,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:23.16,0:23:27.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known across France\Nas the Compte de Buffon,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:27.00,0:23:30.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his friend\NThomas Francois Dalibard,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:30.48,0:23:35.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,erected a 40-ft metal pole,\Nmore than twice as high as this one,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:35.24,0:23:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,held in place\Nby three wooden staves,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:38.32,0:23:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just outside Dalibard's house\Nhere in the Marly La Ville.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:41.88,0:23:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The metal pole rested at the bottom\Ninside an empty wine bottle.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:50.84,0:23:54.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franklin's big idea had been\Nthat the long pole
Dialogue: 0,0:23:54.56,0:23:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would capture the lightning,\Npass it down the metal rod
Dialogue: 0,0:23:58.12,0:24:01.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and store it in\Nthe wine bottle at the base
Dialogue: 0,0:24:01.16,0:24:03.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which worked as a Leiden jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:03.32,0:24:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then, he could confirm\Nwhat lightning actually was.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:08.20,0:24:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All his French followers\Nhad to do was wait for a storm.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:17.04,0:24:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then on May 23rd,\Nthe heavens opened.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:21.72,0:24:23.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,THUNDER
Dialogue: 0,0:24:23.88,0:24:26.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At 12.20, a loud\Nthunderclap was heard
Dialogue: 0,0:24:26.56,0:24:29.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as lightning hit\Nthe top of the pole.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:31.08,0:24:33.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An assistant ran to the bottle,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:33.48,0:24:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a spark leapt across
Dialogue: 0,0:24:36.68,0:24:39.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the metal and his finger\Nwith a loud crack
Dialogue: 0,0:24:39.24,0:24:42.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a sulphurous smell,\Nburning his hand.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:42.92,0:24:47.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The spark revealed lightning\Nfor what it really was.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:47.60,0:24:51.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the same as the electricity\Nmade by man.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:55.28,0:24:58.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is hard to overestimate\Nthe significance of this moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:58.92,0:25:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nature had been mastered, not only\Nthat but the wrath of God itself
Dialogue: 0,0:25:03.48,0:25:06.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had been brought\Nunder the control of mankind.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:06.92,0:25:09.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a kind of heresy.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:09.40,0:25:14.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franklin's experiment was very\Nimportant because it showed that
Dialogue: 0,0:25:14.28,0:25:18.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lightning storms produce\Nor are produced by electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:25:18.92,0:25:22.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that you can bring\Nthis electricity down,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:22.88,0:25:24.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that electricity\Nis a force of nature
Dialogue: 0,0:25:24.84,0:25:26.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's waiting out there\Nto be tapped.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:29.64,0:25:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Next, Franklin turned his rational\Nmind to another question.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:34.64,0:25:40.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why the Leiden jar made the biggest\Nsparks when it was held in the hand?
Dialogue: 0,0:25:40.36,0:25:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why didn't all the electricity\Njust drain away?
Dialogue: 0,0:25:44.52,0:25:49.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In drawing on his experience\Nas a successful businessman,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:49.32,0:25:52.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he saw something no-one else had.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:52.64,0:25:55.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That like money in a bank,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:55.68,0:26:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,electricity can be in credit,\Nwhat he called positive,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:00.44,0:26:03.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or debit, negative.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:05.48,0:26:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For him, the problem of the Leiden\Njar is one of accountancy.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:09.52,0:26:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franklin's idea was every body has\Naround an electrical atmosphere.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:17.60,0:26:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there is a natural amount\Nof electric fluid around each body.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:22.60,0:26:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If there is too much,\Nwe will call it positive.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:26.12,0:26:29.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If there is too little,\Nwe will call it negative.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:29.44,0:26:33.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And nature is organised\Nso the positives and negatives
Dialogue: 0,0:26:33.72,0:26:35.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,always want to balance out,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:35.92,0:26:38.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like an ideal American economy.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:41.08,0:26:46.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franklin's insight was that\Nelectricity was actually just\Npositive charge
Dialogue: 0,0:26:46.20,0:26:50.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,flowing to cancel out\Nnegative charge.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:50.12,0:26:52.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he believed this simple idea
Dialogue: 0,0:26:52.88,0:26:56.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could solve the mystery\Nof the Leiden jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:59.32,0:27:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As the jar is charged up,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:01.48,0:27:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,negative electrical charge is poured\Ndown the wire and into the water.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:08.28,0:27:13.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the jar rests on an insulator,\Na small amount builds up in the\Nwater.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:18.24,0:27:23.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, if instead the jar is held by\Nsomeone as it is being charged,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:23.12,0:27:25.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,positive electric charge
Dialogue: 0,0:27:25.08,0:27:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is sucked up through their\Nbody from the ground
Dialogue: 0,0:27:28.60,0:27:30.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the outside of the jar,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:30.40,0:27:34.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to cancel out\Nthe negative charge inside.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:36.16,0:27:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the positive\Nand negative charges
Dialogue: 0,0:27:38.52,0:27:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are stopped from cancelling out
Dialogue: 0,0:27:41.64,0:27:45.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the glass which\Nacts as an insulator.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:45.52,0:27:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, the charge just grows and\Ngrows on both sides of the glass.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:53.16,0:27:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then, touching the top of the jar\Nwith it the other hand,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:56.76,0:28:00.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,completes a circuit allowing\Nthe negative charge on the inside
Dialogue: 0,0:28:00.64,0:28:05.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to pass through the hand\Nto the positive on the outside,
Dialogue: 0,0:28:05.52,0:28:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finally cancelling it out.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:10.56,0:28:16.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The movement of this charge causes\Na massive shock and often a spark.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:22.12,0:28:27.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The modern equivalent of the Leiden\Njar is this - the capacitor.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:27.20,0:28:30.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is one of the most\Nubiquitous of electronic components.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:30.92,0:28:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is found everywhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:32.72,0:28:37.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are a number of smaller ones\Nscattered around on this circuit\Nboard from a computer.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:37.24,0:28:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They help smooth out\Nelectrical surges,
Dialogue: 0,0:28:40.80,0:28:43.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,protecting sensitive components,
Dialogue: 0,0:28:43.36,0:28:46.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even in the most modern\Nelectric circuit.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:57.00,0:29:00.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Solving the mystery\Nof the Leiden jar
Dialogue: 0,0:29:00.16,0:29:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and recognising lightning as merely\Na kind of electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:29:04.16,0:29:06.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were two great successes\Nfor Franklin
Dialogue: 0,0:29:06.84,0:29:09.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the new Enlightenment movement.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:11.52,0:29:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the forces of trade\Nand commerce,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:14.40,0:29:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which helped fuel the Enlightenment,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:17.08,0:29:19.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were about to throw up a new
Dialogue: 0,0:29:19.32,0:29:23.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even more perplexing\Nelectrical mystery.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:23.36,0:29:26.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A completely new\Nkind of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:31.92,0:29:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the English Channel.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:33.92,0:29:36.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the 17th and 18th centuries,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:36.00,0:29:40.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a good fraction of the world's\Nwealth flowed up this\Nstretch of water
Dialogue: 0,0:29:40.28,0:29:43.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from all corners\Nof the British Empire
Dialogue: 0,0:29:43.24,0:29:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and beyond, on its way to London.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:45.68,0:29:48.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spices from India,\Nsugar from the Caribbean,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:48.64,0:29:51.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wheat from America, tea from China.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:51.80,0:29:54.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, of course,\Nit wasn't just commerce.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:58.64,0:30:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,New plants and animal specimens
Dialogue: 0,0:30:00.84,0:30:04.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from all over the world\Ncame flooding into London,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:04.32,0:30:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including one that particularly\Nfascinated the electricians.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:11.48,0:30:16.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Called the torpedo fish, it had been\Nthe stuff of fishermen's tales.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:16.72,0:30:22.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Its sting, it was said, was capable\Nof knocking a grown man down.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:22.12,0:30:26.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as the electricians started\Nto investigate the sting,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:26.04,0:30:30.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they realised it felt strangely\Nsimilar to a shock
Dialogue: 0,0:30:30.16,0:30:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a Leiden jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:34.24,0:30:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could its sting actually\Nbe an electric shock?
Dialogue: 0,0:30:43.40,0:30:48.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At first, many people dismissed\Nthe torpedo fish's shock as occult.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:48.16,0:30:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some said it was probably\Njust the fish biting.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:51.76,0:30:55.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Others that it could not be a shock\Nbecause, without a spark,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:55.28,0:30:57.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it just wasn't electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:57.04,0:30:59.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, for most,\Nit was a very strange
Dialogue: 0,0:30:59.44,0:31:01.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and inexplicable new mystery.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:01.64,0:31:03.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would take one of the oddest
Dialogue: 0,0:31:03.32,0:31:06.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yet most brilliant\Ncharacters in British science
Dialogue: 0,0:31:06.16,0:31:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to begin to unlock\Nthe secrets of the torpedo fish.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:14.76,0:31:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the only picture\Nin existence
Dialogue: 0,0:31:18.36,0:31:23.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the pathologically shy\Nbut exceptional Henry Cavendish.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:23.24,0:31:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This one only exists because\Nan artist sketched his coat
Dialogue: 0,0:31:27.96,0:31:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as it hung on a peg, then filled\Nin the face from memory.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:35.88,0:31:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His family were fantastically rich.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:38.32,0:31:40.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were the Devonshires
Dialogue: 0,0:31:40.12,0:31:44.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who still own Chatsworth House\Nin Derbyshire.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:44.64,0:31:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Henry Cavendish decided\Nto turn his back
Dialogue: 0,0:31:47.04,0:31:49.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on his family's wealth and status
Dialogue: 0,0:31:49.04,0:31:53.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to live in London\Nnear his beloved Royal Society
Dialogue: 0,0:31:53.16,0:31:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where he could quietly pursue his\Npassion for experimental science.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:58.96,0:32:04.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When he heard about the electric\Ntorpedo fish, he was intrigued.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:04.08,0:32:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A friend wrote to him...
Dialogue: 0,0:32:05.84,0:32:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"On this, my first experience\Nof the effect of the torpedo,
Dialogue: 0,0:32:10.24,0:32:14.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I exclaimed that this is\Ncertainly electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:14.64,0:32:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"But how?"
Dialogue: 0,0:32:16.76,0:32:21.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And to work out how a living thing\Ncould produce electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:32:21.36,0:32:27.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he decided to make his own\Nartificial fish.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:28.72,0:32:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are his plans.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:30.20,0:32:35.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two Leiden jars shaped like the\Nfish which were buried under sand.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:35.88,0:32:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the sand was touched, they\Ndischarged, giving a nasty shock.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:41.24,0:32:46.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His model helped convince him that\Nthe real torpedo fish was electric.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:46.96,0:32:50.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it still left him with\Na nagging problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:52.08,0:32:56.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although both the real fish\Nand Cavendish's artificial one
Dialogue: 0,0:32:56.16,0:32:58.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gave powerful electric shocks,
Dialogue: 0,0:32:58.40,0:33:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the real fish never sparked.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:02.24,0:33:04.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cavendish was perplexed.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:04.36,0:33:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could it be the same\Nkind of electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:33:07.20,0:33:10.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they didn't both do the same\Nkinds of things?
Dialogue: 0,0:33:12.72,0:33:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cavendish spent the winter\Nof 1773 in his laboratory
Dialogue: 0,0:33:17.20,0:33:19.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to come up with an answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:19.92,0:33:22.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the spring, he had a brainwave.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:24.24,0:33:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cavendish's ingenious answer was\Nto point out a subtle distinction
Dialogue: 0,0:33:27.96,0:33:32.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the amount\Nof electricity and its intensity.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:32.64,0:33:36.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The real fish produced the same\Nkind of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:36.52,0:33:39.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is just that it was less intense.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:39.72,0:33:43.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For a physicist like me,\Nthis marks a crucial turning point.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:43.32,0:33:49.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it is the moment when two\Ngenuinely innovative scientific\Nideas first crop up.
Dialogue: 0,0:33:49.20,0:33:53.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What Cavendish refers\Nto as the amount of electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:33:53.28,0:33:56.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we now call "electric charge".
Dialogue: 0,0:33:56.28,0:33:59.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His intensity is what we call
Dialogue: 0,0:33:59.00,0:34:02.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the potential difference\Nor "voltage".
Dialogue: 0,0:34:05.36,0:34:09.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the Leiden jar's shock was\Nhigh-voltage but low charge
Dialogue: 0,0:34:09.88,0:34:15.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whereas the fish was low voltage\Nand high charge.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:15.64,0:34:18.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's possible\Nto actually measure that.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:21.72,0:34:25.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hiding at the bottom\Nof this tank under the sand
Dialogue: 0,0:34:25.12,0:34:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the Torpedo marmorata\Nand it's an electric ray.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:28.72,0:34:33.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can just see its eyes\Nprotruding from the sand.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:33.20,0:34:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a fully grown female
Dialogue: 0,0:34:35.52,0:34:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I am going to try and measure
Dialogue: 0,0:34:37.88,0:34:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the electricity it gives off\Nwith this bait.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:41.24,0:34:43.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have a fish connected to a\Nmetal rod and hooked up
Dialogue: 0,0:34:43.96,0:34:45.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to an oscilloscope
Dialogue: 0,0:34:45.44,0:34:49.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see if I can measure the voltage\Nas it catches its prey.
Dialogue: 0,0:34:49.12,0:34:51.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here goes!
Dialogue: 0,0:35:03.72,0:35:04.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh! There's one!
Dialogue: 0,0:35:10.80,0:35:12.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's another one.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:12.08,0:35:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fish gave\Na shock of about 240 volts,
Dialogue: 0,0:35:15.48,0:35:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the same as mains electricity,\Nbut still roughly 10 times less
Dialogue: 0,0:35:20.68,0:35:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the Leiden jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:23.64,0:35:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That would have given me\Nquite a nasty shock
Dialogue: 0,0:35:26.08,0:35:29.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I can only try and imagine\Nwhat it must have been like
Dialogue: 0,0:35:29.24,0:35:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for scientists in the 18th century\Nto witness this.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:32.32,0:35:36.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An animal, a fish,\Nproducing its own electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:39.68,0:35:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cavendish had shown that the\Ntorpedo fish made electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:35:43.48,0:35:46.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he didn't know if it was the\Nsame kind of electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:35:46.96,0:35:49.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as that made from\Nan electrical machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:35:51.36,0:35:54.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is the electrical shock\Nthat a torpedo produces
Dialogue: 0,0:35:54.88,0:35:59.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the same as produced\Nby an electrical machine?
Dialogue: 0,0:35:59.20,0:36:00.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or are there two kinds?
Dialogue: 0,0:36:00.96,0:36:05.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A kind generated artificially or is\Nthere a kind of animal electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:36:05.00,0:36:08.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that only exists in living bodies?
Dialogue: 0,0:36:08.36,0:36:12.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was a huge debate that divided\Nopinion for several decades.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:16.88,0:36:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Out of that bitter debate\Ncame a new discovery.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:21.60,0:36:26.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The discovery that electricity\Nneedn't be a brief shock or spark.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:26.72,0:36:29.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It could actually be continuous.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:29.08,0:36:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the generation\Nof continuous electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:36:32.96,0:36:35.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would ultimately propel us\Ninto our modern age.
Dialogue: 0,0:36:48.48,0:36:52.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the next step in the story\Nof electricity would come about
Dialogue: 0,0:36:52.56,0:36:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of a fierce personal\Nand professional rivalry
Dialogue: 0,0:36:56.64,0:36:59.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between two Italian academics.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:03.72,0:37:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,BELL RINGS
Dialogue: 0,0:37:14.64,0:37:19.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is Bologna University,\None of the oldest in Europe.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:19.40,0:37:21.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the late 18th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:37:21.00,0:37:23.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the city of Bologna was\Nruled from papal Rome
Dialogue: 0,0:37:23.84,0:37:26.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which meant that the\Nuniversity was powerful
Dialogue: 0,0:37:26.16,0:37:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but conservative in its thinking.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:30.72,0:37:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was steeped\Nin traditional Christianity,
Dialogue: 0,0:37:34.48,0:37:37.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one where got ruled\Nearth from heaven
Dialogue: 0,0:37:37.12,0:37:39.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that the way he ran the world
Dialogue: 0,0:37:39.36,0:37:42.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was hidden from us mere mortals
Dialogue: 0,0:37:42.52,0:37:46.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were not meant\Nto understand him,
Dialogue: 0,0:37:46.28,0:37:48.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only to serve him.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:48.20,0:37:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the university's\Nbrightest stars
Dialogue: 0,0:37:51.84,0:37:54.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was the anatomist\NLuigi Aloisio Galvani.
Dialogue: 0,0:37:54.84,0:37:57.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, in a neighbouring city,
Dialogue: 0,0:37:57.12,0:38:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a rival electrician\Nwas about to take Galvani to task.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:11.24,0:38:14.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is Pavia,\Nonly 150 miles from Bologna,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:14.68,0:38:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but by the end of the 18th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:17.40,0:38:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,worlds apart politically.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:19.84,0:38:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was part of the Austrian\Nempire which put it
Dialogue: 0,0:38:22.64,0:38:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the very heart\Nof the European Enlightenment.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:25.68,0:38:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Liberal in its thinking,\Npolitically radical
Dialogue: 0,0:38:28.12,0:38:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and obsessed with the new\Nscience of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:32.04,0:38:35.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was also home to\NAlessandro Volta.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:39.96,0:38:43.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alessandro Volta couldn't have been\Nmore unlike Galvani.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:43.96,0:38:48.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From an old Lombardi family,\Nhe was young, arrogant, charismatic,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:48.84,0:38:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a real ladies' man,
Dialogue: 0,0:38:50.20,0:38:52.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he courted controversy.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:52.36,0:38:56.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unlike Galvani, he liked\Nto show off his experiments
Dialogue: 0,0:38:56.08,0:38:59.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on an international stage\Nto any audience.
Dialogue: 0,0:38:59.20,0:39:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Volta's ideas were unfettered\Nby Galvani's religious dogma.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:05.64,0:39:09.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like Benjamin Franklin\Nand the European Enlightenment,
Dialogue: 0,0:39:09.04,0:39:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he believed in rationality -
Dialogue: 0,0:39:11.60,0:39:13.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that scientific truth,
Dialogue: 0,0:39:13.56,0:39:17.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like a Greek god,\Nwould cast ignorance to the floor.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:17.80,0:39:22.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Superstition was the enemy.\NReason was the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:25.64,0:39:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Both men were\Nfascinated by electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:28.88,0:39:33.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Both brought their different ways\Nof seeing the world to bear on it.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:45.20,0:39:49.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Galvani had been attracted to\Nthe use of electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:39:49.00,0:39:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in medical treatments.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:50.76,0:39:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For instance, in 1759,\Nhere in Bologna,
Dialogue: 0,0:39:53.84,0:39:58.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,electricity was used on\Nthe muscles of a paralysed man.
Dialogue: 0,0:39:58.44,0:40:01.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One report said,
Dialogue: 0,0:40:01.84,0:40:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"It was a fine sight to see\Nthe mastoid rotate the head,
Dialogue: 0,0:40:07.12,0:40:09.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"the biceps bend the elbow.
Dialogue: 0,0:40:09.92,0:40:14.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"In short, to see the force\Nand vitality of all the motions
Dialogue: 0,0:40:14.24,0:40:18.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"occurring in every paralysed\Nmuscle subjected to the stimulus."
Dialogue: 0,0:40:27.68,0:40:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Galvani believed\Nthese kinds of examples
Dialogue: 0,0:40:30.76,0:40:35.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,revealed that the body\Nworked using animal electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:40:35.08,0:40:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a fluid that flows from the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:40:37.88,0:40:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the nerves,\Ninto the muscles,
Dialogue: 0,0:40:40.48,0:40:42.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's turned into motion.
Dialogue: 0,0:40:43.72,0:40:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He devised a series of\Ngrisly experiments to prove it.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:03.24,0:41:05.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, he first prepared a frog.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:05.88,0:41:09.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He writes, "The frog is skinned\Nand disembowelled.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:09.76,0:41:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Only their lower limbs\Nare left joined together,
Dialogue: 0,0:41:12.44,0:41:15.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"containing just the crural nerves."
Dialogue: 0,0:41:15.04,0:41:17.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've left my frog mostly intact,
Dialogue: 0,0:41:17.52,0:41:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I've exposed the nerves\Nthat connect to the frog's legs.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:21.12,0:41:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then he used Hauksbee's\Nelectrical machine
Dialogue: 0,0:41:25.52,0:41:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to generate electrostatic charge,
Dialogue: 0,0:41:28.48,0:41:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would accumulate and travel\Nalong this arm
Dialogue: 0,0:41:32.04,0:41:35.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and out through this copper wire.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:35.08,0:41:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then he connected\Nthe charge-carrying wire to the frog
Dialogue: 0,0:41:39.40,0:41:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and another to the nerve\Njust above the leg.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:43.80,0:41:46.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's see what happens.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:48.32,0:41:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ooh! And the frogs leg twitches,\Njust as it makes contact.
Dialogue: 0,0:41:52.72,0:41:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There we go!
Dialogue: 0,0:41:55.48,0:42:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For Galvani, what was going\Non there was that there's a strange,
Dialogue: 0,0:42:01.08,0:42:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,special kind of entity\Nin the animal muscle,
Dialogue: 0,0:42:05.64,0:42:07.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which he calls animal electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:07.68,0:42:12.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not like any other electricity.\NIt's intrinsic to living beings.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:15.40,0:42:21.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for Volta, animal electricity\Nsmacked of superstition and magic.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:21.64,0:42:26.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It had no place in rational\Nand enlightened science.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:28.64,0:42:33.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Volta saw the experiment completely\Ndifferently to Galvani.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:33.08,0:42:36.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He believed it revealed\Nsomething totally new.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:36.72,0:42:39.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For him, the legs weren't jumping\Nas a result
Dialogue: 0,0:42:39.52,0:42:42.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the release of animal electricity\Nfrom within them,
Dialogue: 0,0:42:42.44,0:42:46.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because of the artificial\Nelectricity from outside.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:46.08,0:42:49.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The legs were merely the indicator.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:49.48,0:42:54.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were only twitching\Nbecause of the electricity\Nfrom the Hauksbee machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:42:57.00,0:43:02.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back in Bologna, Galvani\Nreacted furiously to Volta's ideas.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:02.24,0:43:06.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He believed Volta had crossed\Na fundamental line -
Dialogue: 0,0:43:06.44,0:43:10.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from electrical experiments\Ninto God's realm,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:10.28,0:43:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that was tantamount to heresy.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:13.72,0:43:17.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To have a kind of spirit\Nlike electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:17.40,0:43:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to have that produced artificially
Dialogue: 0,0:43:19.76,0:43:22.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to say that spirit,\Nthat living force,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:22.16,0:43:26.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that agency was the same\Nas something produced by God,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:26.32,0:43:30.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that God had put into a living\Nhuman body or a frog's body,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:30.40,0:43:32.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that seemed sacrilegious to them,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:32.60,0:43:35.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it was eliminating\Nthis boundary
Dialogue: 0,0:43:35.20,0:43:37.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between God's realm of the divine
Dialogue: 0,0:43:37.48,0:43:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the mundane realm\Nof the material.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:43.80,0:43:47.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spurred on by his\Nreligious indignation,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:47.32,0:43:50.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Galvani announced a new series\Nof experimental results,
Dialogue: 0,0:43:50.88,0:43:53.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which would prove Volta was wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:43:55.08,0:44:00.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During one of his experiments,\Nhe hung his frogs on an iron wire
Dialogue: 0,0:44:00.92,0:44:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and saw something\Ntotally unexpected.
Dialogue: 0,0:44:04.40,0:44:09.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If he connected copper wire to\Nthe wire the frog was hanging from,
Dialogue: 0,0:44:09.96,0:44:13.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then touched the other end\Nof the copper to the nerve...
Dialogue: 0,0:44:14.96,0:44:19.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,..it seemed to him he could make\Nthe frog's legs twitch
Dialogue: 0,0:44:19.32,0:44:21.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without any electricity at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:44:28.68,0:44:34.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Galvani came to the conclusion\Nthat it must have been
Dialogue: 0,0:44:34.44,0:44:39.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something inside the frogs,\Neven if dead,
Dialogue: 0,0:44:39.00,0:44:42.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that continued for a while\Nafter death
Dialogue: 0,0:44:42.12,0:44:44.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to produce some kind of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:44:44.76,0:44:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the metal wires were somehow\Nreleasing that electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:44:51.72,0:44:53.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over the next months,
Dialogue: 0,0:44:53.60,0:44:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Galvani's experiments focused on\Nisolating this animal electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:44:58.24,0:45:01.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using combinations\Nof frog and metal,
Dialogue: 0,0:45:01.08,0:45:03.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Leiden jars\Nand electrical machines.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:05.16,0:45:09.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For Galvani, these experiments\Nwere proof the electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:45:09.32,0:45:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was originating\Nwithin the frog itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:12.84,0:45:17.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The frog's muscles were Leiden jars,\Nstoring up the electrical fluid
Dialogue: 0,0:45:17.64,0:45:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then releasing it in a burst.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:20.12,0:45:25.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On 30th October, 1786,\Nhe published his findings in a book,
Dialogue: 0,0:45:25.84,0:45:31.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Animali Electricitate -\NOf Animal Electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:32.88,0:45:35.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Galvani was so confident\Nof his ideas,
Dialogue: 0,0:45:35.80,0:45:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he even sent a copy of his book\Nto Volta.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:41.04,0:45:46.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But Volta just couldn't stomach\NGalvani's idea\Nof animal electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:46.52,0:45:50.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He thought the electricity just\Nhad to come from somewhere else.
Dialogue: 0,0:45:52.00,0:45:53.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But where?
Dialogue: 0,0:46:04.36,0:46:07.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the 1790s, here at\Nthe University of Pavia,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:07.76,0:46:12.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost certainly in this lecture\Ntheatre, which still bears his name,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:12.08,0:46:16.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Volta began his search\Nfor the new source of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:18.32,0:46:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His suspicions focused on the metals
Dialogue: 0,0:46:21.60,0:46:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Galvani had used\Nto make his frog's legs twitch.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:24.68,0:46:30.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His curiosity had been piqued by\Nan odd phenomenon he come across -
Dialogue: 0,0:46:30.68,0:46:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how combinations of metals tasted.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:36.36,0:46:40.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He found that if he took\Ntwo different metal coins
Dialogue: 0,0:46:40.40,0:46:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and placed them on the tip\Nof his tongue,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:42.76,0:46:46.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then placed a silver spoon\Non top of both...
Dialogue: 0,0:46:47.84,0:46:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,..he got\Na kind of tingling sensation,
Dialogue: 0,0:46:50.60,0:46:54.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather like the tingling you'd get\Nfrom the discharge of a Leiden jar.
Dialogue: 0,0:46:54.16,0:46:57.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Volta concluded\Nhe could taste the electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:46:57.96,0:47:04.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it must be coming from the\Ncontact between the different metals\Nin the coins and spoon.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:04.52,0:47:07.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His theory flew in the face\Nof Galvani's.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:07.28,0:47:11.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The frog's leg twitched, not because\Nof its own animal electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:47:11.88,0:47:16.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because it was reacting to\Nthe electricity from the metals.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:16.44,0:47:21.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the electricity his coins\Ngenerated was incredibly weak.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:21.96,0:47:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How could he make it stronger?
Dialogue: 0,0:47:28.16,0:47:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then an idea came to him as he\Nrevisited the scientific papers
Dialogue: 0,0:47:32.72,0:47:37.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the great British scientist,\NHenry Cavendish,
Dialogue: 0,0:47:37.04,0:47:41.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in particular, his famous work\Non the electric torpedo fish.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:44.72,0:47:49.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He went back and took a closer\Nlook at the torpedo fish
Dialogue: 0,0:47:49.56,0:47:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in particular, the repeating\Npattern of chambers in its back.
Dialogue: 0,0:47:53.88,0:47:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He wondered whether\Nit was this repeating pattern
Dialogue: 0,0:47:56.64,0:47:59.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that held the key to its powerful\Nelectric shock.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:02.08,0:48:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps each chamber\Nwas like his coins and spoon,
Dialogue: 0,0:48:06.08,0:48:10.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,each generating a tiny\Namount of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:10.40,0:48:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, perhaps,\Nthe fish's powerful shock
Dialogue: 0,0:48:13.36,0:48:19.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,results from the pattern of chambers\Nrepeating over and over again.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:20.16,0:48:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With growing confidence in his new\Nideas, Volta decided to fight back
Dialogue: 0,0:48:26.08,0:48:31.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by building his own artificial\Nversion of the torpedo fish.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:31.40,0:48:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, he copied the torpedo\Nfish by repeating its pattern,
Dialogue: 0,0:48:36.04,0:48:38.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but using metal.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:38.40,0:48:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's what he did -\Nhe took a copper metal plate
Dialogue: 0,0:48:42.80,0:48:47.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then placed above it a piece\Nof card soaked in dilute acid.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:47.48,0:48:51.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then above that, he took\Nanother metal and placed it on top.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:51.16,0:48:56.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What he had here was exactly the\Nsame thing as Galvani's two wires.
Dialogue: 0,0:48:56.12,0:49:00.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now Volta repeated the process.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:00.56,0:49:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What he was doing here\Nwas building a pile of metal.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:04.80,0:49:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, his invention became\Nknown as the pile.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:14.08,0:49:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's what it could do that was\Nthe really incredible revelation.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:17.72,0:49:22.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Volta tried his pile out\Non himself by getting two wires
Dialogue: 0,0:49:22.40,0:49:24.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and attaching them\Nto each end of the pile
Dialogue: 0,0:49:24.96,0:49:27.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and bringing the other ends\Nto touch his tongue.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:30.00,0:49:33.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He could actually taste\Nthe electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:33.12,0:49:37.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This time, it was more powerful\Nthan normal and it was constant.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:41.80,0:49:45.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He'd created the first battery.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:45.84,0:49:51.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The machine was no longer an\Nelectrical and mechanical machine,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:51.00,0:49:54.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was just purely\Nan electrical machine.
Dialogue: 0,0:49:54.72,0:49:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So he proved that a machine\Nimitating the fish could work,
Dialogue: 0,0:49:58.64,0:50:03.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that what he called\Nthe metal or contact electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:50:03.40,0:50:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of different metals could work,
Dialogue: 0,0:50:05.84,0:50:09.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that he regarded as his final,
Dialogue: 0,0:50:09.88,0:50:14.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,winning move in the controversy\Nwith Galvani.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:14.88,0:50:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What Volta's pile showed was that\Nyou could develop all the phenomena
Dialogue: 0,0:50:19.68,0:50:24.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of animal electricity\Nwithout any animals being present.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:24.56,0:50:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, from the Voltaic point of view,\Nit seemed as if Galvani was wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:50:30.28,0:50:34.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's nothing special\Nabout the electricity in animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:34.40,0:50:38.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's electricity\Nand it can be completely mimicked
Dialogue: 0,0:50:38.68,0:50:40.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by this artificial pile.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:43.12,0:50:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the biggest surprise for Volta\Nwas that the electricity\Nit generated was continuous.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:49.64,0:50:53.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it poured out\Nlike water in a stream.
Dialogue: 0,0:50:53.00,0:50:57.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And just as in a stream, where\Nthe measure of the amount of water
Dialogue: 0,0:50:57.16,0:51:00.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,flowing is called a current,\Nso the electricity flowing
Dialogue: 0,0:51:00.72,0:51:06.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out of the pile became\Nknown as an electrical current.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:10.60,0:51:13.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,200 years after Volta,
Dialogue: 0,0:51:13.92,0:51:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we finally understand\Nwhat electricity actually is.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:19.48,0:51:23.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The atoms in metals, like all atoms,\Nhave electrically charged
Dialogue: 0,0:51:23.88,0:51:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,electrons surrounding a nucleus.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:27.08,0:51:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in metals, the atoms share\Ntheir outer electrons
Dialogue: 0,0:51:30.56,0:51:32.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with each other in a unique way,
Dialogue: 0,0:51:32.76,0:51:36.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means they can move\Nfrom one atom to the next.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:39.40,0:51:43.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If those electrons move in the same\Ndirection at the same time,
Dialogue: 0,0:51:43.76,0:51:48.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the cumulative effect\Nis a movement of electric charge.
Dialogue: 0,0:51:50.04,0:51:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This flow of electrons\Nis what we call an electric current.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:00.12,0:52:03.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within weeks of Volta publishing\Ndetails of his pile,
Dialogue: 0,0:52:03.92,0:52:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scientists were discovering\Nsomething incredible about\Nwhat it could do.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:16.24,0:52:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Its effect on ordinary water\Nwas completely unexpected.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:20.24,0:52:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The constant stream of electric\Ncharge into the water
Dialogue: 0,0:52:23.96,0:52:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was ripping it up\Ninto its constituent parts -
Dialogue: 0,0:52:27.28,0:52:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the gases, oxygen and hydrogen.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:30.64,0:52:34.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Electricity was heralding\Nthe dawn of a new age.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:34.92,0:52:40.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A new age where electricity\Nceased being a mere curiosity
Dialogue: 0,0:52:40.12,0:52:44.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and started being genuinely useful.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:44.68,0:52:47.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With constant flowing\Ncurrent electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:52:47.36,0:52:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,new chemical elements\Ncould be isolated with ease.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:51.20,0:52:56.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this laid the foundations\Nfor chemistry, physics\Nand modern industry.
Dialogue: 0,0:52:59.56,0:53:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Volta's pile changed everything.
Dialogue: 0,0:53:08.04,0:53:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The pile made Volta\Nan international celebrity,
Dialogue: 0,0:53:11.60,0:53:15.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feted by the powerful and the rich.
Dialogue: 0,0:53:15.84,0:53:17.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In recognition,
Dialogue: 0,0:53:17.08,0:53:21.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a fundamental measure of electricity\Nwas named in his honour.
Dialogue: 0,0:53:21.80,0:53:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The volt.
Dialogue: 0,0:53:26.92,0:53:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But his scientific adversary\Ndidn't fare quite so well.
Dialogue: 0,0:53:32.04,0:53:38.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Luigi Aloisio Galvani\Ndied on 4th December 1798,
Dialogue: 0,0:53:38.80,0:53:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depressed and in poverty.
Dialogue: 0,0:53:41.44,0:53:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For me, it's not\Nthe invention of the battery
Dialogue: 0,0:53:45.16,0:53:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that marked the crucial turning\Npoint in the story of electricity,
Dialogue: 0,0:53:49.60,0:53:52.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's what happened next.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:01.80,0:54:05.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It took place\Nin London's Royal Institution.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:05.20,0:54:09.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the moment that marked\Nthe end of one era
Dialogue: 0,0:54:09.08,0:54:11.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the beginning of another.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:15.04,0:54:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was overseen by Humphry Davy,
Dialogue: 0,0:54:17.72,0:54:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first of a new generation\Nof electricians.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:21.28,0:54:27.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Young, confident and fascinated by\Nthe possibilities of continuous\Nelectrical current.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:27.68,0:54:34.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in 1808, he built\Nthe world's largest battery.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:34.08,0:54:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It filled an entire room\Nunderneath the Royal Institution.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:37.68,0:54:43.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It had over 800 individual\Nvoltaic piles attached together.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:43.96,0:54:48.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It must have hissed\Nand breathed sulphurous fumes.
Dialogue: 0,0:54:51.28,0:54:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a darkened room,\Nlit by centuries-old technology,\Ncandles and oil lamps,
Dialogue: 0,0:54:58.32,0:55:02.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Davy connected his battery\Nto two carbon filaments
Dialogue: 0,0:55:02.80,0:55:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and brought the tips together.
Dialogue: 0,0:55:05.44,0:55:08.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The continuous flow of electricity\Nfrom the battery
Dialogue: 0,0:55:08.20,0:55:11.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the filaments\Nleapt across the gap,
Dialogue: 0,0:55:11.32,0:55:16.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,giving rise to a constant\Nand blindingly bright spark.
Dialogue: 0,0:55:22.52,0:55:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Out of the darkness came the light.
Dialogue: 0,0:55:38.84,0:55:43.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Davy's arc light truly symbolises\Nthe end of one era
Dialogue: 0,0:55:43.84,0:55:46.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the beginning of our era.
Dialogue: 0,0:55:46.68,0:55:48.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The era of electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:55:57.68,0:56:04.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there's a truly grisly\Ncoda to this story.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:04.28,0:56:08.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1803, Galvani's nephew,\None Giovanni Aldini,
Dialogue: 0,0:56:08.28,0:56:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came to London with\Na terrifying new experiment.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:12.92,0:56:15.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A convicted murderer\Ncalled George Forster
Dialogue: 0,0:56:15.84,0:56:18.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had just been hanged in Newgate.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:18.12,0:56:21.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the body was cut down\Nfrom the gallows,
Dialogue: 0,0:56:21.04,0:56:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was brought directly\Nto the lecture theatre,
Dialogue: 0,0:56:23.68,0:56:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where Aldini\Nstarted his macabre work.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:30.24,0:56:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Using a voltaic pile,
Dialogue: 0,0:56:32.04,0:56:37.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he began to apply an electric\Ncurrent to the dead man's body.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:37.52,0:56:43.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then Aldini put one electrical\Nconductor in the dead man's anus
Dialogue: 0,0:56:43.16,0:56:45.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the other\Nat the top of his spine.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:45.92,0:56:50.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Forster's limp, dead body\Nsat bolt upright
Dialogue: 0,0:56:50.16,0:56:52.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his spine arched and twisted.
Dialogue: 0,0:56:52.96,0:56:55.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For a moment, it seemed as though\Nthe dead body
Dialogue: 0,0:56:55.84,0:56:58.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had been brought back to life.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:00.24,0:57:06.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It appeared as though electricity\Nmight have the power\Nof resurrection.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:06.24,0:57:11.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this made a profound impact on\Na young writer called Mary Shelley.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:17.04,0:57:22.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mary Shelley wrote one of the most\Npowerful and enduring stories ever.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:22.40,0:57:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Based partly here on Lake Como,
Dialogue: 0,0:57:24.68,0:57:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Frankenstein tells\Nthe story of a scientist,
Dialogue: 0,0:57:27.64,0:57:30.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a Galvanist probably\Nbased on Aldini,
Dialogue: 0,0:57:30.12,0:57:34.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who brings a monster\Nto life using electricity.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:34.16,0:57:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, disgusted by his own\Narrogance, he abandons his creation.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:40.04,0:57:45.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like Davy's arc lamp,\Nthis book symbolises changing times.
Dialogue: 0,0:57:45.64,0:57:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The end of the era of miracles\Nand romance
Dialogue: 0,0:57:49.24,0:57:54.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the beginning of the era of\Nrationality, industry and science.
Dialogue: 0,0:58:06.24,0:58:10.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's that new age\Nwe explore in the next programme,
Dialogue: 0,0:58:10.40,0:58:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because at the start of\Nthe 19th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:58:12.88,0:58:17.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scientists realised electricity\Nwas intimately connected
Dialogue: 0,0:58:17.68,0:58:21.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with another of nature's\Nmysterious forces...
Dialogue: 0,0:58:21.32,0:58:22.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,magnetism.
Dialogue: 0,0:58:23.48,0:58:27.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that realisation would\Ncompletely transform our world.
Dialogue: 0,0:58:29.64,0:58:32.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To find out more about\Nthe story of electricity
Dialogue: 0,0:58:32.92,0:58:35.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to put your power knowledge\Nto the test,
Dialogue: 0,0:58:35.84,0:58:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,try the Open University's\Ninteractive energy game.
Dialogue: 0,0:58:39.64,0:58:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Go to...
Dialogue: 0,0:58:44.64,0:58:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,..and follow links\Nto the Open University.
Dialogue: 0,0:59:09.32,0:59:12.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
Dialogue: 0,0:59:12.36,0:59:15.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk