57M views · Feb 8, 2024 · 33:45 · 10 HN recommenders · 15 mentions · discussed 2024–2026
Veritasium tells the story of how Shuji Nakamura and others made the blue LED, long thought nearly impossible. It covers the materials challenge of gallium nitride and the persistence it took.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN recommends it as a gripping story of single-minded persistence against the herd, and as the back story behind modern LED lighting.
“is goes into great detail on what it took to make the blue LED. It's quite fascinating.”HN comment, 2024
“I (and my 6-year-old) really enjoyed this video from Veritasium about the invention of the blue LED.”
Enjoyed by commenter and their 6-year-old
I (and my 6-year-old) really enjoyed this video from Veritasium about the invention of the blue LED. this video
“Watch the excellent video made by Veritasium for this back story [1].”
Back story of the blue LED and GaN
>It is absolutely stupid to talk about this as edisons revenge. If Tesla had the modern high power transistors needed to get high voltage dc out of the ac produced from a spinning turbine he would be all for high voltage dc too. This! The soon people realized these facts the better. The pervasive high rise buildings did not happen before the invention of modern cranes. Exactly twenty years ago I was doing a novel research on GaN characterization, and my supervisors made a lot money with consulations around the world, and succesfully founded govt funded start-up company around the technology. Together with SiC, these are the two game changing power devices with wideband semiconductor technology that only maturing recently. Heck, even the Nobel price winning blue LED discovery was made feasible by GaN. Watch the excellent video made by Veritasium for this back story [1]. [1] Why It Was Almost Impossible to Make the Blue LED: this video
“This one is about someone who just worked harder than everyone else”
Story of someone who worked harder than everyone else
The Veritasium youtube channel has a few interesting videos related to this topic: This one is on IQ: link Pay attention to the stats on how IQ correlates to success (near the end). This one is about becoming an expert: link This one is about someone who just worked harder than everyone else: this video
“I found this story facing regarding the inventors determination”
Inventors' determination in making the blue LED
What about the more recent invention of blue pigment LED? this video I found this story facing regarding the inventors determination
“his recent video about the development of blue LEDs [2] is very interesting as well”
History of blue LED development
Veritasium had this video about the history of sewing machines recently [1]. I remember watching it and ended up in awe of how something that we take for granted took a journey of several thousand years to be get invented. While I'm thinking about it, his recent video about the development of blue LEDs [2] is very interesting as well if you haven't seen it. [1] link [2] this video
“is goes into great detail on what it took to make the blue LED. It's quite fascinating.”
Detailed account of what it took to make the blue LED
I suggest you watch this video as well, is goes into great detail on what it took to make the blue LED. It's quite fascinating. this video
“If you haven't already heard the tale of its development, head over here and enjoy”
The tale of Nakamura developing the blue LED
And we only have blue LEDs due to the sheer stubbornness of Shuji Nakamura. If you haven't already heard the tale of its development, head over here and enjoy: this video
“I recommend Veratasium's video on blue LEDs,”
Extreme example of a rebel researcher defying the herd
I think that this is a general trend. Various fields tend to get into groupthink, and it is hard for people who buck the trend to pursue the usual academic path to research. But usually the herd has gone down a wrong turn, and it is up to a random rebel to make the next key discovery. For an extreme example, I recommend Veratasium's video on blue LEDs, this video . But despite how extreme that example is, it does seem to be a trend. The direction that the herd has gone has been generally well-explored simply because a herd of researchers have already gone there. If they've found nothing, you'll probably find nothing either. So you have to back up. Sadly, the way that academia is structured discourages this at every turn. :-(
“Two fascinating examples”
Fascinating example of single-minded researcher supported by patrons
The human race has benefited greatly from individual researchers who made their work the main source of value in their life, and from societies, patrons, and government institutions who gave these people the stability and financial support to pursue such a single minded focus. Two fascinating examples: link this video
“Fascinating story”
Blue LED inventor worked every single day
The guy who figured out how to make a blue LED (which was world changing), also worked every single day . Fascinating story: this video
“the inventor of the blue led was basically scammed by his company.”
Blue LED inventor was shortchanged by his company
In real life, the inventor of the blue led was basically scammed by his company. The company earned a lot of money and basically shifted the whole business to produce blue leds. Veritasium recently made a video about that this video I think this illustrate another point: patents should protect inventors, not companies. Companies shouldn't be able to amass a "portfolio" of patents to bully their competition either.
“people ignoring the company direction, continuing work, and saving the company.”
Example of an individual ignoring company direction and succeeding
And yet there are stories of people ignoring the company direction, continuing work, and saving the company. See: The Blue LED this video So it’s not clear that the company knows better. Feels like educated guesses but a lof of luck involved.
“the companies making LEDs saw exponential increase in revenue.”
LED makers saw exponential revenue growth
Is this true? What were the revenues of lighting companies before compared to now? Do we count TV screen makers because they’re LEDs as well? I just watched Veritasium’s video on how LEDs were indented and the companies making LEDs saw exponential increase in revenue. this video Basic Google search tells me the lighting industry has experienced high growth due to the invention of LED lighting.
“The man was a genius, and his success is mostly his alone.”
Nakamura's success attributed to his own genius
I doubt you can attribute Shuji Nakamura's success entirely to the "Japanese model". this video The man was a genius, and his success is mostly his alone.
“And you can thank this guy for the LEDs that made it possible for you to even read about it on a screen”
Credits the blue LED inventor
And you can thank this guy for the LEDs that made it possible for you to even read about it on a screen this video
