who light up my whole world Dedicated to my children
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A BRIGHT IDEA CHAPTER 1 THE DEFENDING CHAMP CHAPTER 2 THE CHALLENGER CHAPTER 3 THE BATTLE OF THE BULB CHAPTER 4 AFTER THE BATTLE INVENTOR MATCHUP TIMELINE SOURCE NOTE GLOSSARY FURTHER INFORMATION INDEX
INTRODUCTION A BRIGHT IDEA Flick Flick With the flip of a switch light fills the room as the light bulb in a lamp begins to glow a soft yellow hue A scientist enters and sits at a desk Colorful images illuminate the screens on her tablet and smartphone The scientist gets to work Her goal is to create bulbs that will help people sleep better at night and stay alert during the day The new technology not only illuminates a room but also affects how people respond to the light Modern scientists experiment with the colors of lighting to affect people's moods among other research
Los Angeles recently replaced all its old streetlights left with new light emitting diode LED bulbs right This change will likely save about 7 million each year on electric bills These details are new but the scientist's work has roots in a familiar product The invention of the incandescent light bulb in the late nineteenth century changed the way people lived Lighting a room became as simple as flipping a switch The light that bulbs provided was much brighter than candles or gas lamps Incandescent bulbs were steady dependable and far safer than an open flame They allowed for more flexible working hours and new businesses were launched After the discovery of electricity it took inventors about a hundred years to produce light with an incandescent light bulb But who gets the credit for the invention Many people believe it was American inventor Thomas Edison who tried thousands of different materials and finally found success But what if the invention of the light bulb wasn't quite so simple Those who have heard of British chemist Joseph Swan who worked on some of the earliest electric lights know there's more to the story
