Light Emitting Diode

Hello there. My name is LED, which is short for Light Emitting Diode. You can think of me as a tiny star you can hold in your hand. Before I came along, light bulbs were big glass balls that got very, very hot. Ouch. They would often break if you dropped them, and they used up a lot of electricity, like a thirsty puppy drinking a whole bowl of water at once. People needed a new kind of light, one that was small and strong, and didn't get tired so easily. They needed a light that could be gentle on our planet. That’s when my story began.

My birthday was on October 9th, 1962. A kind scientist named Nick Holonyak Jr. was working in his lab when suddenly, I glowed for the very first time. I was a brilliant, cheerful red, like a ripe strawberry. He was so excited. I was the first of my kind. Soon after, my colorful siblings were born. First came my yellow sibling, bright as a dandelion, and then my green sibling, fresh as a blade of grass. We were a happy family, but we were missing someone very important. For years and years, scientists tried to create our blue sibling, but it was very tricky. Finally, in the 1990s, three super clever scientists named Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura worked together and did it. They created my beautiful blue sibling. This was the biggest news ever. You see, when my red, green, and blue selves hold hands, we can create a bright, clean white light. At last, we could light up the whole world together.

Now, my family and I are everywhere. Take a look around. I am the glowing screen on your television and the light in your parent's phone. I am the traffic light that tells cars when to stop and go, keeping everyone safe. I am even the gentle light bulb in your bedroom that reads you bedtime stories. I am very proud because I do my big job without using much energy, which helps keep our Earth healthy. I also last for a very, very long time, so I don't have to be replaced often. It makes me so happy to know that even though I am just a tiny light, I get to make your world a brighter, safer, and better place for everyone.