Neon is a noble gas chemical element (atomic number 10), an inert, odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that makes up only a small percentage of Earth’s atmosphere. Neon is best known for its use in signs that light up, often seen hanging above storefronts or restaurants.
Although it is pretty rare on Earth, neon is abundant in stars, making up the fifth most common element in the universe. It was first discovered in 1898 by scientists Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers in England while experimenting with argon and krypton gases in their electric discharge tubes, which are similar to the ones used today for neon lights.
When a high enough voltage is applied to a discharge tube, the outer electrons of atoms of the neon gas are stripped off and accelerated up to a maximum kinetic energy. This causes the atoms to glow, emitting a reddish-orange light. The negative terminal of the tube attracts these positively charged atoms while the positive terminal attracts the electrons that escaped from them, thus creating a simple light circuit.
The team at The Neon Company in Atlanta combines art and science to create these iconic lights. Gregg Brenner, founder and CEO, says his work involves both the artistry of creative design and glass bending, as well as the physics of electricity and electrons. He adds that abstract neon signs are the easiest to make while precise lettering and large circular shapes are the hardest.
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