alternatehistory.com

Lets posit a highly improbable scenario. In the 1850s, robert bunsen discovers how to use electrolysis to prepare aluminum. He wants to go further in his research, but is hindered by the lack of suitable sources of electricity. Fortunately, an eccentric millionaire provides bunsen with some high power electric generators, free of charge. In a matter of months, he and other members of the university go on to perfect what might (in our time) have been called the hall-heroult process. They are elated by their success. Soon ater this, however, bunsen learns something incredible: Other scientists have discovered the process for refining bauxite into aluminum oxide. It is only the 1850s, but science has found a practical way to smelt aluminum. What are the consequences of this?


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