Who is Lionel Goettreider?

Usually referred to as Goettreider, he is a scientist who those in Tom’s old world viewed as the single most important man in creating the world they live in. He created a device, referred to as the Goettreider engine, in 1965 that harnessed the energy from the rotation of the Earth, leading to unlimited energy, which made unprecedented technological advancements possible. In the previous reality, he became a God-like figure, with countless paintings depicting him and books exploring his life. Unfortunately though, he died months after turning on his engine due to the unanticipated radiation it produced, so he never saw the outstanding impact his invention had on the world.