Nikola Tesla Fell In Love with a Pigeon

The Rest Is Science

Goalhanger

Physics, Science, Mathematics

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 June 2026

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What do lightning, wireless electricity, Cambridge dining etiquette, hypnosis, and a lovestruck pigeon have in common? The answer is (of course) Nikola Tesla. In this episode of The Rest Is Science: Field Notes, Michael and Hannah experience a real Tesla coil, exploring the spectacular physics behind one of Tesla's most famous inventions. Why do these devices create miniature lightning storms? How did Tesla dream of delivering wireless electricity to the entire planet? But there was a stranger side to Tesla's life too, from his fear of pearls to the heartfelt story of the white pigeon he claimed to love "as a man loves a woman." Plus, your questions: the science of hypnosis, the oldest symbols still in use today, why Cambridge professors have personal napkin rings, and whether ‘nothing’ can ever truly exist. ------------------- For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit ⁠⁠https://cancerresearchuk.org/restisscience⁠⁠ Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ. ------------------- Find The Rest Is Science all over the internet by ⁠⁠clicking here.⁠⁠ ------------------- Video Producer: Adam Thornton + Oli Oakley + Jack Meek Animator: Sam Benson Video & Social: Bex Tyrrell Assistant Producer: Lucy Lipscombe Producer: Simona Rata Senior Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Head Of Digital: Samuel Oakley Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the rest is science. I'm Michael Stevens. I'm Hannah Frye. And this is an episode of Field Notes, which is where Michael and I empty our houses of any old scientific linked crap that we've got lying around and bring it to you for your entertainment. You're welcome. I'm speaking out of turn here. These are all carefully curated objects that are genuine scientific interest. Very true. And today I'm bringing in an object that was given to me as a gift by Ramesh Ranganathan.
0:24.1	Oh.
0:24.7	It's right. that are genuine scientific interest. Very true. And today I'm bringing in an object that was given to me as a gift by Ramesh Ranganaathan.
0:24.1	Oh, it's right here.
0:25.5	The comedian.
0:26.4	The brilliant comedian.
0:27.5	He gives a gift to every guest who appears on his podcast.
0:31.1	This is what he gave me.
0:32.7	I would say it is somewhere between extremely boring and potentially lethal.
0:38.8	So that's what we've got coming up.
0:45.7	This episode is brought to you by Cancer Research UK.
0:52.8	Here's something strange.
0:54.8	Your DNA contains more ancient viral fragments than genes.
1:01.8	The genes that build our cells make up only 2% of our DNA.
1:07.1	And for years, that is what scientists focused on.
1:10.1	They treated the rest, the ancient viruses and stuff, as junk.
1:13.6	But now we know that that hidden majority, sometimes called the dark genome,
1:18.6	influences how our biology works and how disease like cancer behave.
1:23.6	It's a reminder that progress rarely comes as a single breakthrough. It builds gradually.
1:29.9	Cancer Research UK plays a central role in that progress, supporting decades of research into over
1:36.7	200 types of cancer, work that's helped double survival in the UK over the past 50 years.
1:43.2	For more information about Cancer Research UK,
	...

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