National Radio Day
August 20 is National Radio Day, and we celebrate one of the world's greatest inventions. The radio not only provides us with a great source of entertainment, by broadcasting the news and playing music, it is also used by the military and police for communication, as well as being a great asset for pilots and ship captains for navigation.
History
The invention of the radio was a joint effort from researchers around the world, and as such, there is not only one person that can take the credit for inventing the radio. It was a long process of each scientist discovering a small component of the radio, such as electric conduction, electromagnetic induction, and radio waves.
German inventor, Heinrich Hertz discovered radio waves, proving that electricity could be transmitted wirelessly. The Tesla coil, a patent by Nikola Tesla was also crucial when building the radio. It was Gugliemo Marconi in the 1890s that discovered a way to communicate long-distance using a radio.
Lee de Forest invented the Audion vacuum in the 1900s, allowing for live broadcasting to be made through the radio. His company also made the first commercial radios. The first radio news was broadcasted on August 31, 1920, in Detroit.
What to do on National Radio Day
Over the years, with the arrival of television and the internet with streaming websites, radio has decreased in popularity. On this day, show your support and appreciation for your favorite radio station, and spend the day listening to the radio. Encourage others to do the same.
If you want to find out more about how radio shows are made, contact a local radio station and ask them if you can come to visit them and learn more about their work.
