...the end of our precious light bulb? surely you jest!

#1

Happy accident

Michael Bowers, a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, was just trying to make really small quantum dots, which are crystals generally only a few nanometers big. That's less than 1/1000th the width of a human hair.

Quantum dots contain anywhere from 100 to 1,000 electrons. They're easily excited bundles of energy, and the smaller they are, the more excited they get. Each dot in Bower's particular batch was exceptionally small, containing only 33 or 34 pairs of atoms.

When you shine a light on quantum dots or apply electricity to them, they react by producing their own light, normally a bright, vibrant color. But when Bowers shined a laser on his batch of dots, something unexpected happened.

"I was surprised when a white glow covered the table," Bowers said. "The quantum dots were supposed to emit blue light, but instead they were giving off a beautiful white glow." (continues...)

http://www.livescience.com/technology/0 ... light.html

Sure, that shouldn't get annoying at ALL...everyfucking thing glowing around you...
ok, ok, fine...it is kinda neat (let's ignore completely the "randomness"of quantuum physics)..."gee...it was s'possed to doo dis, but instead..."

#2

very cool. I could imagine your ceiling painted with this stuff and having no dark areas in a room.

Letting my imagination run... quantum dots impregnated into clothing so they'd glow in the dark.

#3

Again, another instance of some random shit happening, and it being a success...Fuckers...

However, that is a nifty little invention, but to up and replace the trendy lighbulb..? I don't think so...

Bot · #4

Ok, maybe I'm missing something here, but that seems a little ridiculous. lol You need to shine light on them in order for them to shine light back... :? I think I'll stick with my light bulb that shines light all on its own. lol

#5

it also stated that if the quantum dots were excited by electricity it would produce light as well.

Bot · #6

QUOTE(deepdiver32073)it also stated that if the quantum dots were excited by electricity it would produce light as well.

Ok, that makes sense. lol I'll still stick with my bulb, though. I'm not one for change. lol