Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb in 1879. He received a patent for his light bulb in 1880. 

How the light bulb was invented

Edison's light bulb was made of a carbonized filament of uncoated cotton thread. 

He tested thousands of different materials for the filament, including tungsten, compressed carbon, and vegetable growths. 

Edison's light bulb was housed in a glass vacuum bulb. 

He solved the problem of all arc lights in a series going out by using a parallel circuit. 

Impact of the light bulb

The invention of the light bulb led to great breakthroughs in industrialization, medicine, filmmaking, and other areas of knowledge. 

Edison's patent allowed for an electric lamp that was reliable, safe, and practical. 

This paved the way for the universal domestic use of electric light. 

Other light bulb advancements 

In 1904, European inventors invented the tungsten filament.

In 1973, lighting engineers developed a fluorescent bulb that could be used in residential applications.