International Day of Light 2024: Background & Significance

Every year, 16 May is observed as the International Day of Light. The day recognises the importance of light in the life of an ordinary human being and the role it plays in shaping innovation,creativity, and technology. Light plays a crucial role in the understanding of science and the development of technology. 

The International Day of Light celebrates the role light plays in the various facets of human lifes like science, culture and art, education, medicine, communications, energy, etc.

Background to the International Day of Light 

On 16 May 1960, Physicist and Engineer Theodore Maiman of the United States of America created the first working Laser at the Hughes Research Laboratories in California, the United States of America. To mark the momentous discovery, the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) passed a resolution in 2017 to observe 16 May as the International Day of Light. 

The first International Day of Light was observed worldwide on 16 May 2018.

No theme is announced for the International Day of the Light.

Significance of Laser

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Radiation. The laser is a device that stimulates atoms or molecules to emit light at particular wavelengths and amplifies that light, typically producing a very narrow beam of radiation.

Laser is not natural light but a man-made artificial light that produces a very narrow beam of light. 

Because laser light stays focused and does not spread out much (like a flashlight would), laser beams can travel very long distances and concentrate a lot of energy.

The concept of a Laser was first introduced by the famous scientist Albert Einstein. In 1916, he proposed a theory that in a given situation, atoms can release excess energy as light. This can happen spontaneously or when the atom is stimulated by light.

Uses of Laser 

Lasers have multiple uses. 

• They are used in precision tools and can cut through diamonds or thick metal. 
• They are used in performing delicate medical surgeries.
• They are used for recording and retrieving information. 
• They are used in communications and in carrying TV and internet signals. We also find them in laser printers, barcode scanners, and DVD players. They are used in making the delicate parts of computers and other electronic gadgets.
• Lasers are also used in spectrometers, which help scientists figure out what things are made of. 
• Lasers are used in space such as calculating the distance between Earth and Moon.
• Lasers are also used in instruments that map the surfaces of planets, moons, and asteroids.