The World’s Oldest Light Bulb Has Been On for 110 Years Health Consultant

The World’s Oldest Light Bulb Has Been On for 110 Years

NewsFeed NewsFeed

Trending Now

Follow on Facebook

Get bizarre updates from TIME on Facebook.

bizarre

The World’s Oldest Light Bulb Has Been On for 110 Years

By: Erica Ho

Topics: 110, Adolphe Chailet, bizarre, California, fire station, Guinness, guinness world record, light bulb, livermore, Lynn Owens, thomas edison

How many people does it take to change this light bulb? None.

On June 18, the oldest-known working light bulb in the world will celebrate the 110th year it has burned bright. The bulb, which hangs idly about in a fire station in Livermore, California, holds the Guinness World Record.

(LIST: The Making of Thomas Edison)

However, it’s not clear how this particular bulb has been glowing since it was installed in 1901. Lynn Owens, who is in charge of the light bulb centennial committee, says, “Nobody knows how it’s possible. It is a 60-watt bulb and it’s only turned on for about four watts, but nobody knows why it keeps burning… We’ve had scientists from all over the country look at this light bulb.”

Not that the bulb’s shiny record is perfect. It has endured some initial glitches in 1901, a fraught week in 1937 and some random power outages all the way up to 1970s. Originally donated to the fire station, the bulb was actually designed by Adolphe Chaillet, who – get this – originally competed with Thomas Edison to make the best light bulb in town.

Now I’m not sure if Edison would be proud or rolling in his grave, but one thing’s for sure: let’s hope no one hits the power switch on the way out of the door on this bulb.

(PHOTOS: The World’s First R&D Lab)

Read Other Related Stories About This:

The Latest on NewsFeed

internet

Tumblr of the Week: Dear Photograph

Photography, nostalgia and Tumblr just might be NewsFeed’s new favorite combination. Read More

From Our Partners

In Diapers and Angry, Protestors Take Spanish StreetsAOL Weird News

Arts

It Ain’t Over Until the President Sings: Bill Clinton’s Life Gets the Opera Treatment

Penning an autobiography and being the subject of numerous books and films is practically in the job description of a US president. Read More

Virtual Health Center