Make: Radio

xviiForeword Charles Platt

Scientists were skeptical because radio waves, like light waves, should be

blocked by the curvature of the Earth. However, electrical engineer A. E.

Kennelly and physicist Oliver Heaviside, working independently, theorized

that an ionized layer in the atmosphere might bounce radio signals around

the surface of the planet. Marconi liked their theory, as it validated his

claims. The existence of the Heaviside layer, as it is now known, was not

confirmed until many years later.

However, the publicity generated by Marconi’s transatlantic experiment

enabled him to raise more money. He patented all the key concepts, and the ...