History of Illumination (Artificial Light)

Great site about the History of Light and Lighting.

Back in c 4.5 Billion BC our solar system didn't exist.

• The sun & earth came around c 4 Billion BC.
• Fire was probably discovered by accident around c 400,000 BC which led to the torch, our 1st flashlight.
• Primitive lamps using vegetable & animal fats were used c 13,000 BC.
• Oily birds, fireflies, fish oil, olive oil, sesame oil, nut oil, castor oil were used in lamps c 5000 BC. Wealthier people were more likely to have lamps & light since poorer people consumed their oil in times of hunger.
• Pottery lamps by the Greeks -600 BC.
• Candle- c 400
• First gas lighting 1792
• Electric Arc Light - 1809
• Kerosene lamp - 1953
• First Incandescent lamp- 1874
• Edison Lamp -1879
• Neon - 1898
• Tungsten filament lamp -1907
• Flashbulb - 1930
• Fluorescent lamp - 1937
• Fiber optics - 1955
• Lasers, quartz halogen lamp, metal halide lamp - 1960
• Light bulb jokes!!!
• Light emitting diode (LED)- 1965
• Sulfur Lamp - 1994
• Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)commercially produced - 1995

What's interesting is reading the entire list and seeing other events that occurred with the development of different light sources.

The lightbulb jokes are a kick. Now that's a writing project kids can get into!