Here are some unusual and fun facts about Thomas Edison, the prolific inventor who gave the world everything from the light bulb to the phonograph:

Nap Master: 

Despite his legendary work ethic, Edison was a fan of power naps. He believed that short, frequent naps helped him stay creative and productive. He had a bed in his workshop and was often seen catching a few minutes of sleep. Edison claimed he only needed four hours of sleep a night, calling sleep a “waste of time” — yet he loved his naps!

Popularized the Word “Hello”: 

You can thank Edison for making "hello" a popular greeting. When the telephone was invented, Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering calls with “Ahoy!” (which, honestly, would have been fun), but Edison thought “Hello” was a better choice, and the rest is history. So, the next time you pick up the phone, give Edison a little nod!

He Was Hard of Hearing

Edison had significant hearing loss from a young age, which he attributed to a childhood illness and possibly being grabbed by the ears when he was pulled onto a train. He referred to it as a blessing in disguise, saying it helped him concentrate on his work without distractions. In his own words, “I don’t want to hear what other people are saying anyway!”

Movie Star Dreams?

While Edison is famous for inventing the light bulb, he also played a major role in the birth of the movie industry. His company developed the Kinetoscope, an early motion picture viewer. Edison even made some of the world’s first films, including The Sneeze (1894) and Boxing Cats (1894). That’s right — Edison helped film one of the earliest cat videos!

Concrete Furniture, Anyone?

Edison wasn’t just about electricity; he also dabbled in building materials. In fact, he had a bold idea to create concrete furniture and even concrete houses. His goal was to provide affordable housing. The idea didn’t catch on (probably because concrete chairs aren’t the coziest), but some of the concrete houses he designed are still standing!

Chicken-powered Ink?

Edison had a quirky side to his inventions. At one point, he tried to develop a process that used chicken blood as an ink ingredient for his mimeograph machine. The idea never took off (probably for the best!), but it shows how out-of-the-box his thinking could be.

Not a Fan of Sleeping In

Edison believed in starting work early. He would often rise at 5 a.m., calling it the "best time to think." However, he famously criticized people who slept more than necessary, often joking that people sleep their lives away. He wasn’t shy about pushing others to keep up with his relentless pace.

Invented the Tattoo Machine (Sort Of)

Here’s one you might not know — Edison’s invention of the electric pen eventually led to the development of the tattoo machine. His electric pen was originally designed for duplicating documents, but tattoo artists adapted the technology to create more efficient tattooing equipment. So, if you have a tattoo, you may have Edison to thank!

Tried to Invent a “Spirit Phone”

Yes, Edison tried to communicate with ghosts! Later in his life, Edison became interested in the idea of contacting the dead and reportedly worked on creating a “spirit phone” to communicate with the afterlife. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), this device never worked, but it shows that Edison wasn’t afraid to explore the weird and mysterious.

Failed a Lot—And Loved It

Edison is famous for saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He wasn’t discouraged by failure and saw it as part of the process of inventing. This attitude led him to success, but also to some hilarious flops, like his attempt to invent a fruit preservation process that ended up making spoiled fruit last longer!

Thomas Edison’s life was filled with creative thinking, quirky experiments, and a relentless drive to innovate, even when his ideas didn’t pan out. His unusual quirks and willingness to try the unthinkable made him a truly unique figure in history.