Oliver Heaviside

Oliver Heaviside was born on May 18, 1850 in Camden Town, London. Heaviside became interested in electrical science (MP4) because his uncle was an electrical scientist (MP4). He got his start as a telegraphic operator (MP4). He taught himself Morse Code and studied books about science. It was during this time that he began losing his hearing.

After quitting this job he started researching electrical science on his own time at home. Heaviside was very good at math equations (MP4) and used them to explain electric currents. He invented "operational calculus (MP4)" and the "telegrapher's equation." Another deaf scientist, John Ambrose Fleming, was able to use the things Heaviside discovered in his work.

He was the first to explain the continuous movement of electrons (MP4). He was also the first to predict that as a charge's speed increases so does the mass (MP4).

Heaviside thought there was a layer of the atmosphere that would reflect (MP4) radio waves (MP4). This would allow people to make farther calls. He was right! The layer of the atmosphere was named the Kennelly-Heaviside layer. Now we call it the ionosphere.