Overview: LED lights are being recognized by the Nobel Foundation! The invention of the blue Light Emitting Diode has won this year's Nobel Prize for physics. Surprised? Read the blog below to find out why you shouldn't be.
It was announced recently that the 2014 Nobel Prize for physics would go to Hiroshi Amano of Nagoya University in Japan, Isamu Akasaki of Meijo University in Nagoya, Japan, and Shuji Nakamura of the University of California, Santa Barbara. How did they win it? By doing this:
"...[They] invented a new energy-efficient and environment-friendly light source — the blue light-emitting diode (LED). In the spirit of Alfred Nobel the Prize rewards an invention of greatest benefit to mankind; using blue LEDs, white light can be created in a new way. With the advent of LED lamps we now have more long-lasting and more efficient alternatives to older light sources."
You may be thinking “why was the blue LED such a great invention? What about other coloured LEDs?” The blue LED is special because to create a white LED light, you need blue, red and green light light. Both red and green LED lights had been created with relative ease, but the blue LED proved to be a considerable stumbling block. In fact, it took another 27 years for the blue LED light to be invented! This was because scientists could not find a suitable material to use as the semiconductor and create blue light. This is where Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura succeeded.
They discovered that gallium nitride held the key to making the blue LED, and in doing so allowed the creation of the white LEDs we see and use in our everyday lives. Now every time you see a white LED light, you'll be able to appreciate the effort that went into creating it!
Bottom Line: LEDs are useful because they are 50% more efficient at creating light out of electrical energy than regular incandescent bulbs. This means lower energy bills, less energy used, and less overall waste. By inventing the elusive blue LED, these scientists opened up a whole new spectrum of low-energy lighting solutions for the world. Still not convinced how relevant this award is to you? Check that light on your smartphone... you guessed it, an LED!
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