Unraveling the Mystery Behind the 'Tesla Tower'

In late 2018, Viziv Technologies (previously known as Texzon) finished building a tower near Milford, Texas, close to I-35. Its lattice-like framework and dome-shaped top make it eerily similar to Nikola Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower (or Tesla Tower), a doomed energy initiative conceived by the renowned physicist-engineer in the early 1900s. The tower aimed to deliver free, wireless energy worldwide but was ultimately dismantled by creditors after Tesla failed to repay the property's mortgage.

Viziv's mission, boldly stated in all-caps on its website, is to "POWER THE PLANET AND BRING LIGHT TO THE WORLD," highlighting its focus on revolutionizing energy distribution by eliminating the need for conventional infrastructure. This initiative is part of a collaboration with Baylor University. Similar to Tesla's concept, it could also revolutionize radio communications and GPS signaling while providing electricity to the 1.3 billion people globally who lack access to it due to insufficient infrastructure.

As per the company's documentation, the project heavily depends on what are known as Zenneck surface waves. These waves, named after Jonathan Zenneck (a prominent 20th-century physicist and electrical engineer), are electromagnetic waves that utilize Earth's surface as a "waveguide" or channel for transmitting electricity and communication signals, capable of covering the entire globe without the need for wires.

Unlike many other forms of transmission, Zenneck waves remain unaffected by obstacles such as solar flares, lightning, or even electromagnetic pulses, such as those that might occur during a nuclear explosion.

At first glance, this seems like a standard corporate experiment, doesn't it? Install power transmitters in one location and receivers in another. Adjust the variables slightly and test whether the theories hold up in real-world scenarios.

However, when it comes to Nikola Tesla's legacy, simplicity is never part of the equation. His story is a breeding ground not only for genuine scientific advancements but also for all sorts of conspiracy theories.

Now, let's dive deeper into the mystery. Here's a quick recap:

In 1943, Tesla, a genius scientist who may have struggled with mental health issues, passed away in his hotel room. U.S. authorities quickly confiscated the scientist's work, partly to search for blueprints of a secret "death ray" particle beam weapon and to ensure Axis spies couldn't access any groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

Hundreds of pages from those documents were classified and mysteriously disappeared. It wasn't until 2016, following a Freedom of Information Act request, that some of those papers were made public.

It's plausible that Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower could have been used for a particle beam weapon, which explains the classified files. Some refer to the device as a "peace ray," a defensive mechanism designed by the anti-war Tesla to deter nations from attacking one another – an invisible "wall of force" that could neutralize threats without the need for traditional warfare.

Fast forward to the present day.

Conspiracy theorists quickly latched onto the fact that two of Viziv Technologies' top executives have military backgrounds in ballistic missile defense. This comes at a time when the U.S. president is discussing a space-based missile defense system. Residents of Milford, Texas, have expressed confusion about the tower's purpose. “We aren’t really sure. We’re thinking we’re going to walk around with tinfoil on our heads,” local Lauren Gray told KXXV TV in October 2018.

Michael Taylor, the vice president of communications at Viziv Technologies, clarified the tower's purpose in an email.

“The tower at our Milford facility will enable us to scale up the engineering of our surface wave structures significantly beyond what we’ve achieved so far,” Taylor stated. “Testing will commence shortly, and we aim to share global results within the next 12 to 18 months. Our main objective is to demonstrate the transmission and reception of signals worldwide using Zenneck waves.”

Taylor emphasized that Viziv is focused on commercializing its wireless surface wave technology, which he believes will revolutionize industries such as communications, energy distribution, and global positioning. He acknowledged the visual resemblance between the Viziv tower and Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower, noting both projects involve wireless electricity.

“Like all scientific progress, our achievements build on the groundbreaking work of earlier scientists and engineers. While comparisons to a visionary like Tesla are flattering, Viziv’s team benefits from modern computer modeling, advanced instrumentation, and a century of scientific progress. We’re fortunate to have the right tools at the right time for this breakthrough,” Taylor added.

This story has been updated to include remarks from Michael Taylor at Viziv Technologies, provided after the initial publication.