Typical wire filament or incandescent light bulbs normally last for 1,000 to 2,000 hours, but one incredible light bulb has remained lit for almost one million hours, or roughly 113 years.
Located in a firehouse in Livermore, California, this lightbulb has worked since it was first installed in 1901. Due to its longevity, the lightbulb has been dubbed The Centennial Light.
The handblown, 30-watt bulb was produced by the Shelby Electric Company. It’s even been named the longest burning light bulb by Guinness World Records.
The lightbulb was off for about a week during renovations on the firehouse in 1937. Panic ensued in 2013 when the light died, until it was discovered the power supply was the problem and the bulb was still in working order.
While the bulb continues to glow, it only emits about 4 watts of light. The lightbulb is well looked after by the firefighters at the station, and it’s been said they treat it like a “porcelain doll.”
Its longevity has been attributed to a thicker filament, but a definitive answer remains elusive with one past fire official stating “its probably just a freak of nature.”
