International Day of Light May 16, 2024

International Day of Light

Happy International Day of Light! Held on May 16, it marks the anniversary of the invention of the laser by the American physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman in 1960. This pioneering creation helped revolutionize fields from communications to health care and lasers are now found in everything from printers and barcode scanners to surgical devices. Today"s event also celebrates light"s presence in every aspect of human existence, from art and culture to science and technology.

© Feng Li/Getty Images News

palette

Today in History

May 16, 2018National Love a Tree Day
May 16, 20193,000 years of history
May 16, 2020Let s run em up!
May 16, 2021A magnificent monolith
May 16, 2022Burrowing owls
May 16, 2023American Wetlands Month
May 16, 2025Endangered Species Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 6, 2024Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
Nov 8, 2025Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon
Sep 5, 2018Salmon migration in full swing
Oct 25, 2022 Park of the Monsters, Bomarzo, Italy
Apr 7, 2024International Beaver Day
Dec 26, 2018Boxing Day—a shopper’s delight
May 4, 2019Visiting Ahch-To on Star Wars Day
Sep 3, 2023Skyscraper Day
Jun 19, 2023Juneteenth
Oct 31, 2019Protect your neck
Jul 19, 2022National Bison Month
Dec 12, 2021Wicker fields in Cañamares, Spain
Dec 11, 2024International Mountain Day
Oct 5, 2022World Teachers Day
Feb 26, 2023Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Mar 11, 2021Welcome to the drainpipe of the Pacific
Jun 18, 2018Here, fishy!
Nov 23, 2024Fibonacci Day
Oct 30, 2021Central Highlands of Vietnam
Feb 4, 2021Where is this wintry road?
Jul 15, 2023Castelmezzano, Italy
Aug 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Aug 17, 2019The buzz about bees
May 28, 2019Why’s it called a spelling ‘bee,’ anyhow?
May 23, 2019Come out of your shell for World Turtle Day
Dec 5, 2023Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles, Bavaria, Germany
Sep 25, 2021Autumn comes to the Porcupines
Apr 29, 2025Formal garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
May 6, 2023Azaleas blooming on Hwangmaesan Mountain, South Korea
Nov 29, 2022Giving Tuesday