ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of lighting technology

Hey there, little buddy! Today, we're going to learn about the timeline of lighting technology.

Many, many years ago, people only had fire to light their homes and lives. They used things called torches and candles made from things like animal fat and wax.

Then, in the early 1800s, a man named Humphry Davy made an amazing discovery. He found out that electricity could create light. This led to the invention of the first electric light, which was called the arc lamp.

The arc lamp was big and expensive, so it wasn't used for everyday lighting. Instead, people used gas lamps for streetlights and light bulbs for indoor lighting.

In 1879, a man named Thomas Edison created the first practical and long-lasting electric lightbulb. He used a special filament in a glass bulb to create a steady source of light.

After that, many other inventors improved upon Edison's design. They found new materials for the filament, made bulbs more efficient, and created different shapes and sizes of bulbs.

In the mid-1900s, fluorescent lights were invented. These are long tubes that use gas to create light. They last longer and use less energy than traditional light bulbs.

Then, in the 2000s, LED lights became popular. LED stands for light-emitting diode. They use even less energy than fluorescent lights and last even longer. Plus, they can change colors!

So there you have it, little buddy. From torches to candles to arc lamps to light bulbs to fluorescent lights to LED lights, lighting technology has come a long way over time. Cool, huh?