Nick Holonyak Jr. invented the first visible-spectrum LED (red) in 1962. Decades later, Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura invented the blue LED, which allowed for the creation of white LED light. This invention is one of the most important for environmental sustainability; LEDs are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 25 times longer. They have completely transformed how we light our world, from smartphone screens to city streets, drastically reducing global electricity consumption.