Michael Faraday invented the rubber balloon

[mhuffman]

Some people really are just on a different level. I also put John von Neumann[0] on this level.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann

[meltyness]

He should also be credited presumably with

- characterizing static electricity

- transformers (power transmission, wall warts, spark plugs)

- air conditioning / refrigeration / chlorine/ammonia's endothermic phase change from liquid to gas[0]

[0] https://youtu.be/up8LqQMLvK8?t=1470

[guywithahat]

> He should also be credited presumably with

> - transformers

I think you're thinking of Michael Bay, not Faraday

[c3534l]

More interesting to me is this history on balloon animals:

> The Aztecs created the first balloon sculptures using wildcat intestines, which were then presented to the gods as a sacrifice.

[ginko]

Now I imagine Aztecs offering balloon animals made out of wildcat intestines to their gods.

[earthboundkid]

Yes but arguably, Ben Franklin invented the Faraday cage. :-)

[helsinkiandrew]

His "Chemical History of a Candle" Christmas lecture is a masterpiece in science education. Narrated here by Bill Hammack - the engineerguy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrHnLXMTOWM