1879 in science
1879 in science and technology saw a major breakthrough: the practical electric light bulb. Thomas Edison and his team patented a carbon-filament bulb, which made electric lighting possible for homes and streets. This paved the way for the modern electric power industry and changed daily life by extending productive hours after dark. Other scientific and technical progress continued in various fields, but the rise of electric lighting remains the defining feature of 1879.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:30 (CET).