The Light Bulb Turns 130—And Heads to the Grave

I come not to praise the incandescent light bulb.
I come to bury it.
The familiar incandescent Edison bulb debuted 130 years ago today, on December 31, 1879. (The first test occured October 22, but unveiling took place on the last day of that year.) It changed the world. And tomorrow, its death spiral will begin. Australia has imposed regulations that will phase the bulb out in 2010. Importing inefficient incandescents and selling the bulbs at retail has already started. The European Union will follow in 2012. Read More…..