The cathode ray tube, invented in 1897, might not seem like much today but it’s the granddaddy of modern screen technology. This ingenious contraption uses a stream of electrons, “cathode rays,” fired from a heated cathode towards a fluorescent screen.

When these rays strike the screen, they excite the phosphors, causing them to glow. By controlling the path of the electron beam, images could be created.

While the bulky CRTs of old have largely been replaced by sleek LCDs and OLEDs, their legacy lives on. The fundamental principles of how pixels are formed and displayed on a screen all originated with this simple yet groundbreaking invention. The cathode ray tube paved the way for the flat-screen TVs and computer monitors we rely on today, a testament to the enduring impact of early technological advancements.

Prompt:
What obscure scientific discovery or technological advancement revolutionized something we encounter daily without us even realizing it?