Accidental invention could light up the future - LiveScience - MSNBC.com
Accidental invention could light up the future - LiveScience - MSNBC.com
The main light source of the future will almost surely not be a bulb. It might be a table, a wall, or even a fork.
An accidental discovery announced this week has taken LED lighting to a new level, suggesting it could soon offer a cheaper, longer-lasting alternative to the traditional light bulb. The miniature breakthrough adds to a growing trend that is likely to eventually make Thomas Edison’s bright invention obsolete.
The new device gives off a warm, yellowish-white light that shines twice as bright and lasts 50 times longer than the standard 60 watt light bulb.
The only downside is the cost. Even though prices for LED bulbs are dropping, the bulbs I used ranged from $26.95 (Sun’s Dusk) to $34.95 (Vivid and Color Changing) to $44.95 (Vivid +). They’re where compact fluorescent bulbs were just a few years ago.
As prices continue to fall we’ll see new designs with more LEDs and higher lumen output giving CFLs a huge run for the money. In the meantime, you should think about trying a LED bulb.
