The science behind Frankenstein’s monster

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein over two centuries ago, in 1818. The book is a great example of science fiction, but just how much science was behind Frankenstein? Electricity was a hot topic in the years leading up to Mary Shelley publishing Frankenstein. Records suggesting some awareness of electricity date back to 2750 BCE (with reference to electric fish). The term electric, derived from electricus – related to the Latin and Greek terms for amber –, appeared in print in 1646. Further work through the 17th and 18th centuries saw key discoveries, including Benjamin Franklin’s reputed 1752 kite experiment that demonstrated...