The Lightbulb Moment

Watch The Lightbulb Moment

  • 2021
  • 1 Season

The Lightbulb Moment is a documentary series produced by CuriosityStream that explores the history and impact of some of the most important technological and scientific breakthroughs in human history. The show uses a combination of interviews, historical reenactments, and animations to tell the stories behind these breakthroughs and the people who made them possible.

Each episode of The Lightbulb Moment focuses on a single breakthrough, exploring the events leading up to it, the challenges the inventors or scientists faced along the way, and the impact the breakthrough had on society and the world as a whole. Some of the breakthroughs explored in the series include the invention of the telephone, the discovery of penicillin, the development of the computer, and many more.

One of the key themes of The Lightbulb Moment is the interdisciplinary nature of scientific and technological breakthroughs. The show highlights how breakthroughs in one field often require input and collaboration from experts in other fields and how the interconnectedness of different fields can lead to unexpected discoveries and advancements.

Throughout the series, The Lightbulb Moment also emphasizes the importance of perseverance and persistence in scientific and technological endeavors. Many of the breakthroughs explored in the show were the result of years or even decades of work by dedicated scientists or inventors who refused to give up despite repeated setbacks and failures.

In addition to exploring the stories behind specific breakthroughs, The Lightbulb Moment also sheds light on the broader societal and political contexts in which these breakthroughs occurred. The show examines how factors such as war, social upheaval, and shifting economic conditions can both hinder and spur scientific and technological progress.

The Lightbulb Moment also touches on some of the ethical and moral implications of technological progress. Many of the breakthroughs explored in the show raise important questions about the potential benefits and downsides of new technologies and about the responsibility of scientists, inventors, and policymakers to consider the broader impacts of their work.

Overall, The Lightbulb Moment is a fascinating and engaging series that showcases the incredible ingenuity and creativity of human beings and the ways in which technological and scientific breakthroughs have transformed the world we live in. The show is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, science, or technology, and provides valuable insights into how innovation and progress occur in our interconnected world.

The Lightbulb Moment is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (10 episodes). The series first aired on February 18, 2021.

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Seasons
EDISON How Edison Reinvented Invention
10. EDISON How Edison Reinvented Invention
February 18, 2021
Edison pioneered the world's first research and development center in Menlo Park, New Jersey, working with a group of experimenters to methodically zero in on the holy grail of electric light. In the process, he transformed invention from a solo to a communal activity
INTERSTATE How The Interstate Connected and Divided America
9. INTERSTATE How The Interstate Connected and Divided America
February 18, 2021
Dwight Eisenhower's interstate highway system was the biggest infrastructure project of its time, a bold plan to connect all corners of America and boost the post-war economy. So how did it end up dividing the nation, and deepening the divide between rich and poor?
STREAMING The Invention That Revolutionized Streaming Video
8. STREAMING The Invention That Revolutionized Streaming Video
February 18, 2021
The early days of online video were plagued by low resolution, stamp-sized video, and unbearable buffering times. But one day that all changed. In the late 90s, a breakthrough technology revolutionized streaming video, setting the foundation for the era of Netflix.
WIFI The Hollywood Actress Who Laid the Groundwork For Wi-Fi
7. WIFI The Hollywood Actress Who Laid the Groundwork For Wi-Fi
February 18, 2021
Actress Hedy Lamarr, the world's most beautiful woman, had a knack for inventing. During WWII, in an effort to help the Allies, she devised a technology designed to intercept Axis communications - and created the foundation of wireless internet.
VANILLA The Bean That Shaped the Future of Food
6. VANILLA The Bean That Shaped the Future of Food
February 18, 2021
In 1841 on the small island of Reunion, a 12-year-old slave did something no one had done before; artificially pollinate the vanilla plant. The vanilla bean took the world by storm, sparking the artificial flavor revolution and forever changing how we eat.
MAUVE The Fake Color That Made Our Modern World
5. MAUVE The Fake Color That Made Our Modern World
February 18, 2021
In 1856, a chemistry student accidentally created a strange substance with a rich purple hue -- the world's first synthetic dye. In just a few years, 'Mauve' would take over the fashion industry, make food look more appetizing, and enable stunning advances in medicine.
FLORIDA How Real Estate Rogues Invented Florida As We Know It
4. FLORIDA How Real Estate Rogues Invented Florida As We Know It
February 18, 2021
Florida wasn't always the Sunshine State. In the 1920s, an army of real estate boosters set out to redefine Florida from an economic backwater to a ritzy vacation destination, sparking a land boom-and bust-the likes of which America had never seen before.
BARCODE How The Barcode Shaped Our Modern Economy
3. BARCODE How The Barcode Shaped Our Modern Economy
February 18, 2021
Barcodes have radically changed global commerce, helping fuel the rise of everything from massive companies like Walmart to world powers like China. And it all started with a man daydreaming on a beach in 1949.
CUBICLE How the Cubicle Became Universally Hated
2. CUBICLE How the Cubicle Became Universally Hated
February 18, 2021
The Cubicle was originally designed to set workers free. A futuristic designer named Robert Propst dreamed up The Action Office as a groovy 1960s workplace utopia that would unleash the modern knowledge worker's vast untapped potential. This is how it all went so wrong.
LIKE BUTTON The Unintended Consequences of the Facebook Like Button
1. LIKE BUTTON The Unintended Consequences of the Facebook Like Button
February 18, 2021
When first presented with the like button (then dubbed the awesome button) Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a simple response: No. He worried that a quick thumbs up or down would discourage more meaningful online interaction. Eventually, his team changed his mind and transformed the world.
Description
Where to Watch The Lightbulb Moment
The Lightbulb Moment is available for streaming on the CuriosityStream website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch The Lightbulb Moment on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon and Tubi TV.
  • Premiere Date
    February 18, 2021