The 2026 Light Bulb
New inventions are often built on previous inventions through the power of trial and error.
The light bulb, as we know it today, is truly an invention built on inventions. It was a combined effort across many decades and experimental prototypes and is a shining example of how science moves forward on the shoulders of previous discovery.
Thomas Edison gets most of the credit for inventing the light bulb, but, in reality, his contribution was mainly to tweak existing inventions to make a commercially viable light bulb. The bulk of the early steps forward to invent the light bulb came from British inventor Joseph Swan, who built upon the work of Warren de la Rue of using metal filaments encased in vacuum tubes. Swan patented his version of the light bulb in early 1879 after almost 30 years of work.
Edison bought the rights to an 1874 patented light bulb invention by two Canadian scientists, Henry Woodward and Mathew Evans. Their light bulb used electrodes connected with a carbon rod contained in a nitrogen-filled glass cylinder and was by no means ready for mass production. Then Edison, “borrowing” from the Swan’s patented technology, used trial and error to come up with a design that was cheaper to produce and lasted longer, thus becoming a commercially viable product. Edison filed his patent in late 1879 and it was quickly challenged by Swan. Swan won his patent infringement case against Edison, and the court made Swan a partner in Edison’s company. The rest is history.
The light bulb is one of those fascinating inventions we take for granted. A single bulb turns into a multitude of power. The light bulb helps turn darkness into light. (Maybe even too much light when we consider the effects of modern light pollution?)
Adityaoberai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The light bulb is also associated with ideas, ask any of us who grew up on a steady diet of cartoon entertainment. Many a great accomplishment or a hilarious failure in one of these cartoons grew out of a light bulb appearing above the characters head.
The light bulb became the basis of one of the classic (and not politically correct) joke cycles of all time, the “How many _____s does it take to change a light bulb?”
For example,
How many scientists does it take to change a light bulb? None. They use them as controls in double blind trials.
How many radio astronomers does it take to change a light bulb? None. They’re not interested in that short wave stuff.
How many software people does it take to screw in a light bulb? None. That’s a hardware problem.
How many hardware folks does it take to change a light bulb? None. They just have marketing portray the dead bulb as a feature.
How many writers does it take to change a light bulb? Never mind that — let me tell you about MY light bulb.
How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb? How many can you afford?
I know I should apologize for the bad humor, but I find it difficult since I had such a good laugh searching for light bulb jokes. Now, back to the original, and a bit more serious, light bulb theme.
The light bulb of 2025 needs changing. It is yellowed and dim. It’s like the ancient, naked bulb hanging in a dark and damp cellar of a horror movie. Its light creates more shadows and anxieties than it illuminates. It’s high time we change it.
The 2026 assignment is simple. Change the yellowed and dim light bulb of 2025 by shining your light bulb into the creeping darkness and shadows of our times.
- Shine a light for creativity.
- Shine a light for books.
- Shine a light for libraries.
- Shine a light for bookstores.
- Shine a light for our schools.
- Shine a light for STEAM.
- Shine a light for other human beings.
- Shine a light for all things we know to be good and to be true!
Above all else, let the bright light of your creativity illuminate everyone you come into contact with. Be inspired by one of my favorite passages from the Bible.
“You are a light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a candle to be put under a bushel basket; they put it on a lamp stand where it shines for everyone in the house.” (Mt 5:14-15)
In short, SHINE YOUR LIGHT!
One final question.
How many of us does it take to change the dim and sputtering light bulb that’s currently in the socket?
All of us.
One light at a time. Shining into a multitude of light that drives out the darkness, the shadows, and the fear.
Happy New Year from the STEM Tuesday Team!
Shine on!
Adrian Tync, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mike Hays has worked hard from a young age to be a well-rounded individual. A well-rounded, equal-opportunity sports enthusiast, that is. If they keep a score, he’ll either watch it, play it, or coach it. A molecular microbiologist by day, middle-grade author, sports coach, and general good citizen by night, he blogs about sports/life/training-related topics at www.coachhays.com and writer stuff at www.mikehaysbooks.com. Two of his science essays, The Science of Jurassic Park and Zombie Microbiology 101, are included in the Putting the Science in Fiction collection from Writer’s Digest Books. He can be found roaming Bluesky under the guise of @mikehays64.bsky.social and @MikeHays64 on Instagram.
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