Behind many historic inventions—flight, electricity, personal computers—are tales of heated rivalries that spurred the inventors on. This television miniseries profiles the competitions of such geniuses as the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, and Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Actors convey the intensity of the feuds, and interviews with experts illuminate the characters and the science that made the innovations possible. The eight-part docudrama reminds us that sometimes the brightest minds need a competitive nudge to reach greatness.
This article was originally published with the title "American Genius" in Scientific American 312, 6, 78 (June 2015)
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0615-78d
ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Clara Moskowitzis Scientific American's senior editor covering space and physics. She has a bachelor's degree in astronomy and physics from Wesleyan University and a graduate degree in science journalism from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Follow Moskowitz on Twitter @ClaraMoskowitz Credit: Nick Higgins
