#13: Thomas Edison Didn’t Invent the Light Bulb

Everyone knows that Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb. The problem is, they’re wrong. Somehow this “historical fact” was placed in history books, and no one looked deeper for a long time. He still gets credit for inventing a somewhat reliable lightbulb that the everyday person could use.

If you’ve never heard of Joseph Swan, I’m not surprised. He’s an obscure reference, but he was crucial to the incandescent lightbulb as we know it. He also invented a dry photographic plate, which launched photography into a mainstream hobby and allowed people to travel and take photographs.