Can you imagine an evening without any lights at home?
Well, there was a time when the setting of the sun indicated the end of the day’s work and signalled people to have an early dinner and call it a night.
Image Source: GIPHY
But then the human race learned to tame fire and start using it to illuminate their homes at night. With that came the first primitive curved stone oil lamps, roughly in 70,000 BCE, which later got replaced by rushlights, consisting of moss or a core of reeds that were soaked in animal fat and lit ablaze. Gradually the moss got replaced by a ‘wick’ and was combined with early candle materials like beeswax or tallow (a hard fatty substance made from rendered animal fat). With this invention, candles became a sensation, as they could now control the burning length of the fire through wicks! Accompanied by a humble stand, it marched along with humans at night.
Centuries later came Thomas Edison, who tamed electricity inside a bulb and called it a discovery in 1879 that changed the way mankind dealt with darkness altogether. Everybody knows this part. But how did mankind learn to control electricity? Were there any discoveries post-Edison’s electric bulb? In this month’s Evolution of Everything, let’s tour the history of man-made lights – from oil lamps to electric bulbs, and from neon lights to stunning LEDs.
1780
When French chemist Antoine Lavoisier’s discovery of oxygen and combustion touched the ancient craft of burning oil, it led to the creation of reformed versions of oil lamps. Subsequently, in 1780, Ami Argand, a Genevan physicist and chemist, invented the Argand lamp. It consisted of a hollow, circular wick, and a burner which was more luminous and efficient than previous oil lamps. Later on, his lamp got modified and was used with coal gas in 1784.
A portrait of Ami Argand, the man behind the famous Argand Lamp. Photo Credit: Detroit Institute of Art
1792
We can thank William Murdoch for experimenting with gas lighting and producing the first gaslight in this year. He produced lights using coal gas for lighting his house in Redruth, Cornwall. Soon, gas lights became popular and most cities in the United States and Europe had streets lit with gaslights.
Over the years, different types of gaslights have used different kinds of fuel that includes methane, acetylene, butane, propane, hydrogen, and natural gas. Thus, the growth of gaslights and the infrastructure to support them mirrored the advancements of the era of crude oil in the 1850s.
1815
England’s Sir Humphry Davy invented the first electric arc lamp in 1815. He connected two wires to a battery and used charcoal strips as electrodes. This produced a sufficiently intense white light. By 1841, arc lighting started being adopted as street lighting in Paris as an experiment.
An early form of Davy lamp
The 1870s
With the advancement of electric current began an era of fast progress in scientific pursuits. The decade witnessed numerous inventors patenting various forms of electric bulbs. Among them was the most influential carbon-thread incandescent lamp invented by American inventor Thomas Edison and Sir Joseph Swann of England. In 1879, Edison set out to invent the long-lasting electric light bulb that could compete with gaslighting.
This revolutionary advancement established electricity as the primary source of lighting for both indoors and outdoors.
1910s
The 20th century was the era of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. The beginning of the century saw the neon bulb trend when Georges Claude of France invented the neon lamp in 1911. Then popular as ‘liquid fire’ neon lights worked by applying an electric charge to a sealed tube of neon gas, thus causing it to glow.
1927
A decade later, in 1927, three inventors – Friedrich Meyer, Hans Spanner, and Edmund Germer -invented the fluorescent light. These fluorescent lamps were filled with mercury vapour, which produced light when an electric current was passed through it. Due to its high efficiency, soon it surpassed incandescent lights to become the most commonly used lights in the United States.
The 1960s
This decade saw one lighting technology that was significantly different from the various HID bulbs. Called as the Light-Emitting Diode (LED), it didn’t require a glass housing like traditional bulbs and produced light by converting electrical current using a semiconductor. In 1962, General Electric scientist Nick Holonyak developed the first practical visible-spectrum (red) LED.
Another important invention of this decade was that of the laser light by American physicist Theodore Harold Maiman on 16 May 1960, at Hughes Research Laboratories.
1976 – Present
A series of energy crises between 1967 and 1979 caused by problems in the Middle East propelled scientists to find a convenient way to conserve energy. One scientist was Edward E. Hammer, who was working on a way to bend fluorescent tubes into a spiral shape and create the first Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) light that consumed less energy. The bulb could last 10 times longer than incandescent lights and used 75% lesser energy.
With the growing influence of technology, the evolution of lighting took a new turn. Introduction of smart lighting coupled with wireless charging enabled users to remotely control cooling, heating, and lighting appliances, while minimizing unnecessary light and energy use.
Photo Credit – Pinterest
Another stylish and unobtrusive technology was the motion sensor lights, first invented in the early 1950s by Samuel Bango. He applied the fundamentals of radar to ultrasonic waves, a frequency that humans cannot hear, to detect a thief or a fire and named it as a ‘burglar alarm’. Much later, sensor lights became a part of every house and industry for being effortless, providing high levels of security, taking up minimal space while conserving a lot of energy.
The evolution of lighting is a long and luminous story. We can only guess where it will go from here. What will lighting look like in 50 years? What about the 22nd century? Tell us in the comment section below.
Books are Tanaya Goswami’s first love and cheesecakes come a close second. Talking about movies, music, calligraphy, politics, and Elon Musk will get you listed under the friends’ section of her diary. Ever since moving on from her job as an English lecturer, she spends her time at BYJU’S crafting stories filled with emotion and sprinkled with sarcasm. Outside of work, she’s either learning something new (French, most recently!) or is curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. She firmly believes that discovering what you don’t know is the key to knowledge and is constantly working towards improving herself. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories, have something nice to say, or if you have compelling ideas to share!
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!
V Shriya is a class eight student who has been using BYJU’S for a year now. She shares her experiences with using the app and how it has helped her in improving her academic performance.
Aanvi from class 9 has been with BYJU`S for just 6 months and hear what she has to say about her learning experience with the app.
Comments
Nikunj gaur
January 6, 2021
Very interesting to read. Thanku for sharing this story.
Kamesh yadav
December 30, 2020
It’s a fantastic article?
But im not able to recieve other newsletters even after subscribing
Atharv
December 28, 2020
Ma’am, why can’t we use an electric bulb in place of an water heater with the element. They both give out heat and light
shivani sharma
December 26, 2020
the lights look 50years ago that the sun is working like lights the invotor invated the first light was the candles and after that the coal gas lamp the light look in lamp in 1870s the first electric bulb invated by thomas edition and sir josphson the elctirc was successfully inviated and after the invation are happen and the so many things are invated by many invators…. and so on.
peoples coonected with light now they are depended on light people considerd the light in all place where they are going these story helping that understand what the peoples do when light not invated how the technology of light will reach in.light will be floating all around us, switching off and on as per our order. these invation are makes us feel like that the we included in these invation. and we saw how the bulb and lights are made
light play the so important role in our day to day life. today technology are depend on light and the make life very eaiser and soo on.
Natasha athote
December 22, 2020
Hi, I am Natasha. Thanks to BYJU’S app for making my studies easy for me. I really like this information about light and its evolution. just like this information about light, even we as students have to shine bright like light. I hope your this information will light up my life. This is my promise that l will bright one day also.
Thanks BYJU’S for making this app! ??
Amruth
December 21, 2020
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Anushka hundet
December 20, 2020
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Ayushi
December 19, 2020
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AKSHAT RAJ
December 14, 2020
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Ayushi Verma
December 14, 2020
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Andhavarapu sankar Rao
December 14, 2020
Excellent
Prashant kewat
December 5, 2020
Happy
Sree Lasya
December 5, 2020
Very interesting! Maybe in the 22nd century, we will be able to control lights from a few metres or even kilometres away!!!!!
Aanya
December 4, 2020
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Pranjal
December 2, 2020
This article helped me understand the history of lightning
Sahil Hilal
November 27, 2020
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Very intresting to read
Koushika
November 26, 2020
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Anushka hundet
November 24, 2020
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Vaishnavi
November 23, 2020
May be in 22th century there will be those type of bulbs that if we will think them to switch on than they will switch on automatically.
Anshi
November 22, 2020
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Chinmai Chaudhari
November 20, 2020
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Anushka sharma
November 20, 2020
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So much informations. This story was much needed to learn how lights came in existence and how they evoluted. Thank You for this.
Jayan Das
November 20, 2020
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November 19, 2020
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Tiana chopra
November 18, 2020
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November 18, 2020
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Paayal
November 17, 2020
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November 17, 2020
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November 17, 2020
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Ritesh Verma
November 16, 2020
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N. Suvitha
November 16, 2020
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Aryan Kumar
November 16, 2020
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Thanks
Sharshti Chauhan
November 15, 2020
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Riyaz Ul Hassan
November 15, 2020
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November 14, 2020
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Sadiya kounine kittur
November 14, 2020
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Archana
November 14, 2020
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November 13, 2020
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November 13, 2020
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November 13, 2020
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NAITIK RAJ MAHTO
November 12, 2020
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Haribaran
November 12, 2020
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With us
Nikhita sree
November 12, 2020
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PRAGNITHA
November 12, 2020
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Yatin Sai Chaitanya
November 12, 2020
Maybe the lights in the 22nd century be like it would get lit automatically when a car moves near it and they may be using water instead of electricity
Mitakshi
November 11, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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charan
November 10, 2020
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November 10, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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Nanda Kishore S.J
November 9, 2020
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Wajiha azim mokashi
November 9, 2020
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November 9, 2020
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Subhra Chakraborti
November 9, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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November 8, 2020
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Shourya singh
November 8, 2020
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Sourajyoti Karmakar
November 7, 2020
It was an interesting brief history of one of my most fascinating developments in the field of technology. Lightning is absolutely necessary and many engineers contributed in its development. Just thinking about them makes me amazed.
Ally
November 7, 2020
Very informative
A.bvishal Inesh
November 7, 2020
The light will became a remote control.that is instead of using wires in mic
Harshita Kunwar
November 7, 2020
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Chirag Patil
November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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Yengkhom Olivia
November 7, 2020
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Aditi Jethani
November 7, 2020
??
Aditi Jethani
November 7, 2020
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Aditya Kumar
November 7, 2020
Thank you byju.sfor this wonderful and interesting information
Vishnu Vardhan
November 7, 2020
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Partho Probodh Ghoshal
November 7, 2020
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Swarna
November 7, 2020
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N.S.Madhavv
November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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Bhumika
November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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Husain
November 7, 2020
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Aswathi
November 7, 2020
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Utkarsh
November 7, 2020
If a room.consists of 12ac on full
Ekamjot
November 7, 2020
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Abin Mukhopadhyay
November 7, 2020
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Bhautik S.M
November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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Vedang
November 7, 2020
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November 7, 2020
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Bal Krishan Dwivedi
November 7, 2020
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G Ranganatha Rtd Lecturer
November 7, 2020
Narration of the lighting evolution is very attractive. The conclusion that makes the students to visualize the developments decades ahead is quite appreciable.
Bhavya Chauhan
November 7, 2020
1 Future light will be able to light up the whole house in the 22nd century.
Swastik Banerjee
November 7, 2020
It is very good story and also informative. ???
Utsa Barai
November 7, 2020
I loved it and I share it with my friend ?
Arijeet
November 6, 2020
Motor sensor lighting can also be use in Security!???
Arijeet
November 6, 2020
Wow! Fantastic Evolution about Light sources!??? And also the “Motion Sensor lighting is very Amazing as we don’t have to switch it on and and it can save much Electricity⚡⚡⚡ !!!
Hasini
November 6, 2020
Inspiration for us to invent something more fascinating
Parth Nanasaheb Rananaware
November 6, 2020
I loved this information very much. Now I think I can also make a bulb. ???
K.Dhanesh
November 6, 2020
I understand lessons
Uma Maheswar
November 6, 2020
Good Morning beti Tanaya,
Very useful knowledge and very beautifully written.
God bless you added with my blessings.
Uncle
Soumyadeep Ganguly
November 6, 2020
I think it is beyond our thinking capacity how the technology of lighting will reach its zenith. I think lights will be floating all around us, switching off and on as per our orders.
SHAURYA ARYAN
November 6, 2020
Very fascinating I love the story
Nandini
November 6, 2020
Thank you for sharing this story.
Archi pramod Todlekar
November 6, 2020
Hello
Shreya
November 6, 2020
Very interesting to read ??
Austin Victor
November 6, 2020
Thank You BYJU’S for giving me such an informative knowledge about the history of light. I hope you will reach more greater heights!!!
M.Venkat
October 9, 2020
I think byjus is providing the platform to the students not only for studies and also for their own interests as we seen. Proud to be an byjute. We will never and ever forgot byjus founder raveendran for his wonderful platform for students
Dhairya Chandak
October 8, 2020
The lighting in future will be……. Lasers will create 3D untouchable shapes or even holographic images that look totaly real.
Adbutha
October 5, 2020
Yep ! Our first lesson in English is about lamps??????
ABHISAR SINGH ⚡
October 3, 2020
Wow that’s amazing, I didnt know that and Byju’s always tries to give us the knowledge of everything small to big. Thank you Byju’s. And the motion sensor light are amazing and are giving us the
an eye of future !
Hashim
October 2, 2020
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