Switching the Light: From Chemical to Electrical [Historical]
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: There are many good reasons to celebrate light besides the scientific achievements triggered by al-Haytham's work 1,000 years ago, which was described in the 'Historical' column in the last issue of IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine [1]. Long before Maxwell discovered the secret nature of light, mankind had learned how to manage it to improve life. Far back in the Stone Age, 1.5-0.5 million years ago, ancient progenitors of modern man were able to conserve fire and use it in many ways, including lighting the dark of the night, promoting socialization among the individuals gathered around the fire. Much later, the light of oil lamps and candles illuminated the dwellings and palaces of ancient and classical civilizations, allowing a much richer social life after dusk [2].
Author: Massimo Guarnieri
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1600129073