The history of the origin of light is pretty amazing. When thinking about it, we recall that Humphry Davy invented the first electric light and Thomas Edison, the first light bulb. The 1990’s invention of long-life bulbs and Compact Fluorescent bulbs are now the champagne of light bulbs.
Daylight is another story. Those studying physics tell us, just a few hundred thousand years after the Big Bang, the moment of first light was born. This is known as the Era of Recombination – the birth of light. It was at this point that the universe went from being totally opaque to transparent.
Fast forward to the evolution of humankind and the survival of our species way before any need for climate justice. The invention and control of the ultimate light, “fire,” was documented over one million years ago on earth. Until that time, light came from the sun and the moon at night. It was accompanied by occasional lightening produced by electricity in storms. The discovery of fire and the light created by fire was a critical element to human evolution. Fire allowed humans to explore colder regions and it was used for warmth, cooking, and to produce weapons. It was also a form of protection from enemies, humans, and wild animals. Those who camp out can attest to the value of a fire beyond that of roasting marshmallows. It is well documented that it is the use of fire that separates humans from other animals.
From bonfires to more controlled fires, the evolution of creating indoor lighting has been quite ingenious. The ancient Egyptians used the core of reeds soaked in melted animal fat called rushlights or torches. In China, the first candles were made from whale fat. Later, in ancient China and Japan, candles were made of wax from insects and seeds wrapped in paper. The use of whale oil had begun, and lanterns followed in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China and later in the US in the mid 1800’s. Whaling for oil was tough and extremely dangerous. Injuries and death were common to most every voyage. Many whaling vessels were lost and few working in this industry became rich from the grueling work. Following the use of whale oil came camphine and kerosene. Later, whaling was seen by many as a cruel industry.
The evolution of earth’s light and the human control of fire has a long history. It has taken creativity and arduous work and has been a challenge for humanity to produce the light that now takes us through the long nights of fall and winter. As the days grow short and the winter months are upon us, the disappearing light is replaced by the lights in our homes, streets, and businesses. When you flip that switch tonight to light your home, it may be a suitable time to reflect on how we as humans arrived at such a place of comfort. It may be a good time to pay homage to those early workers and inventors who led us down the path to lighting our homes and communities.
We thank the moon, we thank the sun, but most of all we thank those who gave us the light. – M. Shaw
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
