An American electrical engineer, Dr. Thomas Henry Moray, dedicated his life to exploring the concept of drawing energy directly from the environment, a pursuit that began with a unique discovery during his youth. In 1911, at the age of 19 and while undertaking missionary work in Sweden, Moray stumbled upon a soft, silvery-white crystal. The precise identity of this substance remained largely a secret throughout his life, yet it would profoundly influence his future endeavours.
Initially, when integrated into a crystal radio set, this mysterious material produced an extraordinarily powerful signal, reportedly strong enough to damage headphones and cause large speakers to roar. This early demonstration hinted at the crystal's unusual properties and its potential for energy generation, laying the groundwork for Moray's subsequent experiments and inventions.
By 1925, Moray had developed what he termed an 'energy receiver', a device he publicly exhibited to a group of curious engineers. This apparatus comprised a cylindrical metal tube, a grounding rod, and an aerial. Moray claimed it could simultaneously power 35 light bulbs, a hand iron, and a heater. To substantiate his assertion that the device was generating its own energy, independent of conventional sources, it was reportedly tested in various isolated locations, including atop a mountain, in a desert, and even sealed within a container at the bottom of a lake. While Moray permitted other scientists to examine his invention, he steadfastly guarded the secret of its key component: the enigmatic Swedish crystal.
Moray theorised that this crystal was capable of drawing energy from cosmic rays emitted by the sun and distant stars, a phenomenon he referred to as the 'radiant sea of energy'. He subsequently refined his invention, renaming it the Cosray Receiver. By 1929, at the height of the Great Depression, this modified device was reportedly generating sufficient power to run a small factory. The prospect of cheap, or even free, energy during such economically challenging times naturally garnered significant attention, including from government electrical authorities.
However, this attention brought complications. Moray reportedly feared that these authorities intended either to seize his invention or destroy it outright. Indeed, the original device was destroyed in 1941, an event shrouded in a complex narrative that included an alleged assassination attempt and suspicions of infiltration of Moray's laboratory, potentially by Soviets who had provided funding during the 1930s. Despite these setbacks and repeated rejections from the patent office for his projects, Moray continued to work in the radio business, often on military contracts. Under pressure, he eventually disclosed most of the components of his Swedish stone, which is now believed to have been a rare form of spodumene, a lithium aluminium silicate. Today, Moray's legacy and work are continued and closely guarded by his son, John.