glühlampen

Glühlampen, also known as incandescent light bulbs, are a type of electric lamp that produces light by heating a wire filament until it glows. This filament is typically made of tungsten, a metal with a very high melting point. The filament is enclosed in a glass bulb, which is then filled with an inert gas or a vacuum to prevent the filament from oxidizing and burning out too quickly. When an electric current passes through the filament, it heats up to a high temperature, emitting visible light.

The process of generating light through incandescence is relatively inefficient. A significant portion of the electrical energy consumed by a glühlampe is converted into heat rather than light. This is why glühlampen are often described as producing a "warm" light, but also why they consume more electricity compared to more modern lighting technologies like LED or fluorescent lamps.

Glühlampen were the dominant form of electric lighting for over a century, playing a crucial role in the electrification of homes and cities. However, due to their energy inefficiency, many countries have phased out or are in the process of phasing out the production and sale of traditional glühlampen, encouraging the adoption of more energy-saving alternatives. Despite their declining usage, their simple design and warm light quality have made them a recognizable and historically significant invention.