How a glass lens saved countless ships
The 1822 invention of the Fresnel lens transformed lighthouses, projecting powerful light beams over vast distances to guide ships safely and prevent countless maritime disasters.
Lighthouse beacons were revolutionized by the Fresnel lens, invented in 1822. This ingenious optical system, using concentric glass rings, projected intense, focused beams of light over 20 miles, replacing inefficient mirrors and dramatically reducing shipwrecks. The first practical installation was in 1823 at France's Cordouan Lighthouse, with rotating versions soon creating unique flashing patterns for navigation.
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