International Day of Light – May. 16, 2027

Expected International Day of Light Deals

As International Day of Light approaches, expect a focus on educational and scientific initiatives rather than commercial deals. Organizations like UNESCO and scientific institutions will promote free online resources, virtual lectures, and open-house events to foster understanding of light’s importance. Tech companies such as Philips Hue and Osram may offer special discounts on smart lighting solutions, while optics retailers like Edmund Optics might feature promotions on scientific equipment. Look for museums and planetariums to host special exhibits or workshops. We will update this page with confirmed live programs as May 16 approaches.

History of International Day of Light

Since antiquity, humans have used various materials to produce light, ranging from hollow rock, shells, or wood soaked in animal fat and oil lamps to candles and gas. The modern history of light began with the invention of the electric light bulb. Contrary to popular belief, the light bulb was invented long before Thomas Edison patented it. Edison only made it possible for the light bulb to be manufactured commercially. In 1802, Humphrey Davy invented the electric arc lamp, an early predecessor of the incandescent electric bulb, by connecting voltaic piles to charcoal electrodes. However, the arc lamp was not a practical source of lighting as it was too bright for domestic or work uses, and it burned out quickly. This invention led to the creation of the miner’s safety lamp in 1815 and street lighting in several European cities, including Paris, during the 1800s.

In 1850, Joseph Swan solved one of the problems that electric lamp inventors have encountered over the years: the cost-effectiveness of the lamp’s filament. In place of platinum filaments, Swan used cheap carbonized paper filaments. In 1878, he patented his electric lamp in the United Kingdom and demonstrated it at a lecture in Newcastle, England. Swan’s invention, like Davy’s arc lamp, was impractical for everyday use due to the inefficiency of its vacuum pumps. When Edison discovered the flaw in Swan’s electric lamp, he made improvements and presented his light bulb in December 1879. Swan copied these improvements and established an electrical lighting company in England. Edison filed a patent infringement case against Swan, but this failed.

Edison and Swan later formed an alliance called Edison-Swan United, which grew to become the world’s largest light bulb manufacturer. In the early 1960s, Nick Holonyak, an employee at General Electric, accidentally invented the red LED light and patented it for use as a light fixture. In the early 1990s, Japanese and American scientists Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura created the blue LED and were awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics for it.

Scientists were able to create white LEDs as a result of this. Lighting is becoming more advanced and sophisticated, with the ability to light up homes and streets wirelessly — using smartphones and AI voice commands. Incandescent light bulbs are also being phased out, with halogen, LED, and OLED alternatives taking their place.

How Businesses Can Celebrate International Day of Light