A light with a bright future
By Gregory M. Lamb
Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Light bulbs have blazed for more than 125 years, and people still can't seem to get enough of them. Priced at less than a dollar apiece, and screwed into billions of sockets worldwide, these glowing little orbs have changed the way humanity works and plays, turning night into day. But as energy costs soar, the future of the traditional incandescent light bulb is beginning to dim.

Futuristic solid-state lighting has already crept into consumer goods, such as cellphone screens and desk lamps. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and their cousins, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), are two developing light sources beginning to beam into homes and offices. LEDs are showing up in night lights, flashlights, outdoor pathway lights, and Christmas lights. OLEDs are not as prevalent, but cellphones, notebook computers, and TVs made with them are moving from prototypes into products. story