Who invented the electric bulb

Thomas Alva Edison, born in Ohio on February 11, 1847, was one of the most well-known inventors of all time. He spent a few of his early years in formal schooling, but he received most of his education at home. Thomas set up a laboratory in the basement of his family's Michigan home and spent most of his time experimenting. Edison's mother, Nancy, knew her son was fond of chemistry and electronics, so she gave him books to read on the subjects. One book explained how to perform chemistry experiments at home; Thomas did every one in the book. A biographer of Edison once noted: "His mother had accomplished that which all truly great teachers do for their pupils, she brought him to the stage of learning things for himself, learning that which most amused and interested him, and she encouraged him to go on in that path. It was the very best thing she could have done for this singular boy." As Edison himself put it: "My mother was the making of me. She understood me; she let me follow my bent." In 1859, the Grand Trunk Railroad was extended to Port Huron, Michigan. Thomas got a job as a newsboy for the day-long trip to Detroit and back. Since there was a five-hour layover in Detroit, Edison asked for permission to move his laboratory to the baggage car of the train so he could continue his experiments there. This worked for a little while, until the train lurched forward and spilled some chemicals, setting the laboratory on fire. While working for the railroad, Thomas saved the...

The electric light, one of the most common items in our lives that affect us greatly, was not “invented” in the conventional sense by Thomas Alva Edison in 1879. Although he may be called the first commercially viable incandescent light inventor, he was not the first or only individual attempting to create the incandescent light bulb. There were many other individuals, including Joseph Swan (UK) and Heinrich G. Darcys (Austria), who made electric lights before Edison, but their various experiments largely failed to produce a successful product that could be mass-marketed. These inventors worked in the same way as Edison, they each had their own theoretical approach to designing an electric light, but Edison’s approach had one key advantage. However, Edison is generally credited with the invention because his version was able to outpace the predecessors due to a mix of three elements: • An efficient incandescent substance • A higher vacuum than previous versions were capable of • A high resistance that made power distribution from a central location lucrative. Edison’s key advantage came from his choice of a carbonized bamboo filament, which he was able to fashion in such a way that it lasted relatively long and burned brightly. In addition, Edison worked with a greater vacuum than others had been able to achieve, causing the light to burn clearly rather than suffocating itself by smoking up its own container. It started with Humphry Davy in 1802 when he used a platinum str...

Why subscribe? • The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe • Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5' • Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews • Issues delivered straight to your door or device Humans are naturally curious and creative, two traits that have led our species to many scientific and technological breakthroughs. Since our earliest ancestors bashed a rock on the ground to make the first sharp-edged tool, humans have continued to innovate. From the debut of the wheel to the launch of Mars rovers, several of these key advancements stand out as especially revolutionary. Some inventions are thanks to one eureka moment, but most of our most pioneering inventions were the work of several innovative thinkers who made incremental improvements over many years. Here, we explore 20 of the most importantinventionsof all time, along with the science behind the Wheels were invented circa 3,500 B.C., and rapidly spread across the Eastern Hemisphere. (Image credit: James Steidl via Shutterstock) Before the invention of the wheel in 3500 B.C., humans were severely limited in how much stuff we could transport over land, and how far. The wheel itself wasn't the most difficult part of "inventing the wheel." When it came time to connect a non-moving platform to that rolling cylinder, things got tricky, according to David Anthony, a professor of anthropology at Hartw...

A Brief History of the Light Bulb The electric light, one of the everyday conveniences that most affects our lives, was not “invented” in the traditional sense in 1879 by Thomas Alva Edison, although he could be said to have created the first commercially practical incandescent light. He was neither the first nor the only person trying to invent an incandescent light bulb. In fact, some historians claim there were over 20 inventors of incandescent lamps prior to Edison’s version. However, Edison is often credited with the invention because his version was able to outstrip the earlier versions because of a combination of three factors: an effective incandescent material, a higher vacuum than others were able to achieve and a high resistance that made power distribution from a centralized source economically viable. Early Light Bulbs In 1802, Humphry Davy invented the first electric light. He experimented with electricity and invented an electric battery. When he connected wires to his battery and a piece of carbon, the carbon glowed, producing light. His invention was known as the Electric Arc lamp. And while it produced light, it didn’t produce it for long and was much too bright for practical use. Over the next seven decades, other inventors also created “light bulbs” but no designs emerged for commerical application. More notably, in 1840, British scientist Warren de la Rue enclosed a coiled platinum filament in a vacuum tube and passed an electric current through it. Th...

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