Lichtgedanken 04

S C HW E R P U N K T 11 04 | LICHT GEDANKEN F E AT U R E Light—a bundle of energy Light illuminates the world, it is a tool and the elixir of life Bundled and intensified light waves have become a key component of research and industry, medicine and communications. Laser beams and pulsed bundles of energy provide insights into fundamental processes at the subatomic level, assist in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, and serve as precision instru­ ments in the production of industrial goods. Light waves also transport infor­ mation from the depths of the universe and provide insight into its composition and development since the Big Bang. The light of the sun is, quite simply, the elixir of life on earth: from single-celled green algae to humans, life follows a 24- hour rhythm. Artificial light sources illuminate our cities, powerful microscopes provide detailed images of living cells, and optic data highways enable commu­ nication at the speed of light. »