Electric balb

A light bulb produces light from electricity.[1] In addition to lighting a dark space, they can be used to show an electronic device is on, to direct traffic, for heat, and for many other purposes. Billions are in use, some even in outer space.

An incandescent lightbulb

A design of an incandescent lightbulb

Early people used candles and oil lamps for light. Crude incandescent lights were made in the early and middle 19th century but had little use. Improved vacuum pumps and better materials made them shine longer and brighter late in the century. Electric power stations brought electricity to urban and later rural areas to power them. [2] Later gas discharge lights, including fluorescent lights, use less electricity to make more light.