The infrared light emitted by light bulbs can be harnessed to make them even
brighter, says General Electric of New York (GB 2362260). Today鈥檚
spotlight-style bulbs normally use a silvered reflector behind the filament to
focus the light into a beam. GE鈥檚 new lamp is especially bright because it has
six filaments. But to make it shine even more brightly, the quartz bulb is
coated with tantalum oxide, which lets visible light pass through but reflects
infrared. So the infrared bounces back and makes the filaments even
hotter鈥攇enerating more visible light.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Google shouldn鈥檛 be pressuring schools to use its AI
91色情片
Technology
Australia鈥檚 social media ban faces high court challenge
News
Technology
The nuclear waste repository in Finland designed to outlast modern civilisation
Features
Technology
How did the biggest crypto heist in history just happen?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles