Switching the Light: From Chemical to Electrical [Historical]

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].

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