Though neon lights can be seen almost anywhere, a hundred years ago, neon, element 10, was only one of the noble gases. In January 1915, Georges Claude, a French engineer and inventor, was the first to harness the power of neon. When the gas is ionized through from electricity, the result is a bright red light. Other noble gases, such as argon and xenon, light up different colors when stimulated the same way. Today we use neon to light "open" signs, billboards, businesses, and there have even been songs about it. There are so many uses of neon, and its versatility is something people will remember. |