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:

Apr 15, 2022World Art Day
Sep 30, 2025Koala in the Great Otway National Park, Australia
Oct 6, 2022International Geodiversity Day
Apr 12, 2025International Day of Human Space Flight
Feb 25, 2019High above the reef
Feb 11, 2022harlem
Mar 5, 2026Evening over Göreme, Cappadocia, Türkiye
Nov 18, 2018An inland ocean
Aug 11, 2021Everyone s watching the Perseids
May 16, 2023American Wetlands Month
Sep 7, 2020Take a break! It s Labor Day!
Jul 4, 2024Independence Day
Aug 28, 2025A great white egret in Hungary
Jul 20, 2022National Moon Day
Feb 17, 2020Happy Presidents Day
May 31, 2018Leaves of Grass
Dec 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Oct 13, 2025Cedar Mesa, Utah, for Indigenous Peoples Day
Feb 11, 2023Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, California
Jun 6, 2021On this shore, history was made
Jul 9, 2019Jaguar in the Pantanal wetlands
Jun 28, 2026Saguaro cacti, Windgate Pass, McDowell Range, Arizona
May 15, 2026Endangered Species Day
Jan 28, 2024Channel Country, Australia
Apr 22, 2018Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day
Apr 14, 2019A view fit for a queen
Jun 17, 2022Grand Teton National Park
Jan 3, 2023Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
May 19, 2023Endangered Species Day
Jun 26, 2019Get amped for Glastonbury