Thomas Edison s bright idea Jan 27, 2020

Thomas Edison s bright idea

On January 27, 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for an electric lamp using "a carbon filament or strip coiled and connected to platina contact wires." This wasn"t exactly the first light bulb, but it was the first practical and inexpensive one, a key technological innovation that introduced a new era. To mark the day, we"re looking at the bright lights of New York City and its surrounding area, as seen from the International Space Station.

© NASA Photo/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Jan 27, 2018Bioluminescence at Trwyn Du Lighthouse in Wales
Jan 27, 2019A memorial in Germany
Jan 27, 2021A dramatic view of Sicily
Jan 27, 2022Bluespotted ribbontail ray
Jan 27, 2023Guanahacabibes National Park, Cuba
Jan 27, 2024St. Paul Winter Carnival
Jan 27, 2025Zoroaster Temple, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Jan 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 23, 2018Make your list and check it twice
Dec 20, 2019Tree of many colors
Jun 4, 2018Lighting it up for Vivid Sydney
Jul 31, 2023Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Aug 5, 2021A swim in the sky
Feb 12, 2026Darwin Day
Aug 20, 2018Looking back at Yellowstone, 30 years after the fires
Jun 29, 2018Waiting for the perfect shot
Jan 18, 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Nov 2, 2024National Bison Day
Jun 7, 2024World Oceans Day
Jun 21, 2020Grab onto the handlebars, kid
Aug 24, 2020Go with the rainbow flow
Jul 13, 2023International Rock Day
Dec 15, 2021The Hermitage of Santa Justa
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettia Day
Oct 19, 2018Portland celebrates its bounty
Feb 2, 2018Alpine marmots at Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Sep 24, 2020Till the cows come home
Jan 21, 2025Squirrel Appreciation Day
Dec 17, 2023Bohemian waxwings in Canada
Feb 22, 2018Roman theater of Cartagena, Spain
Dec 26, 2025Boxing Day
Oct 4, 2024World Space Week begins
Aug 22, 2025Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Jan 15, 2019A personal collection becomes an institution
Dec 14, 2024Christmas Bird Count turns 125
Jun 1, 2021Pretty poetic for a pit
Nov 9, 2020Autumn in Piedmont