Why It Was Almost Impossible to Make the Blue LED

It’s so dumb how it’s never just “this guy changed the world and got compensated fairly for it” there’s always some corporate bs in the way

I came here to learn why blue was so difficult to make… I didn’t know this was the story of a man who discovered a landmark piece of technology. Just the thought of him staring at a small blue light, completely understanding it was his life’s work and his masterpiece. True happiness in a blue glow.

The man really said "I'm interested in physics" like that's not the understatement of the century

It must be insane being him and being able to look at so many things and go "that is directly the result of MY work and research", that's so awesome.

What a success story! I wish he was successful in compensation side in Japan, but I guess they lost him because of that. Happy to see him thrive now.

In the mid 1990s, I was working in a research lab where we were in competition with Nichia in the development of GaN blue LED and lasers, also using our home-grown MOCVD machines. Dr. Nakamura was always 2 (or more!) steps ahead of us. I still vividly remember when we got our hands on a prototype of his deep blue LEDs after a conference. We turned it on in the lab, with lights down, expecting a weak blue emission, as we got from our own devices. It came on so bright and so blue, it illuminated the whole room! It blew our mind, we couldn’t believe it. How had he done that? He was the blue LED magician. Nobel price well deserved, and then some.

Breaks my heart to see pioneers of science and technology getting screwed over by greedy corporations. Mr. Nakamura seems like a truly nice and genuine human being. Congratulations Mr. Nakamura

Look at him speaking, walking, always smiling. He's so happy to talk about his accomplishment. That's a fulfilled man right there. That's what excruciating work gets you.

So he was underfunded, underappreciated and undersold, yet he almost single-handedly created one of the most important technologies in the modern world, a true legend. And I got to learn his story from an interesting, high quality source. Thanks again Derek

Don’t ever go back making “television”. This is so much better. A great story from beginning to end with a spectacular entry of the main character. No spoilers, no previews. YouTube at its best. TV will never reach this level of storytelling. Hats off to your illustrator too.

Gallium Nitride is like that one kid no one cares about in school but ends up being the one with the most successful career that everyone will be clinging on for financial support

Robotics engineering student here, if I ever met this man I think I would faint before I got the chance to thank him for his innovation. I don't think he'll ever stop being famous in like every STEM field, what an absolute legend

Mr. Nakamura is a hidden giant everyone should know more about. Incredible tenacity and great video.

Bro really went from "Ignored for not having a PhD" to "Nobel Prize winner"

Imagine having a the balls to listen to lecture, tell the man working in your lab that he doesnt know what he's doing despite everyone doing what you recommend is failing, then when he actually succeed in his world changing, billion dollar creation you not only don't reward him but you also spite him by giving him the lowest bonus in history. Then when he leaves because you quite literally spat in his face you try to sue him AND you also make sure he doesn't get his just rewards despite the law actually thinks he deserves them. THEN when the man gets a god damn nobel prize and says HE wants to make amends you turn him down???? Quite honestly I'm going to start looking if the bulbs i buy are made by Nishia and avoid them like the plague. I don't think I've heard of a more severe case of corporate hubris

The First photo of him holding the LED goes so hard knowing the great lengths that have been gone through to even attempted this

Disobedience in Japan is extreme rare. This guy is TWO true heroes.

I'm so glad this story didn't end with "and then he died penniless and alone" because it feels like so many of these stories often do. Warms my heart to see him alive and recognized for his genius and thriving still!

I had just started work as a graphic designer at a sign company in 2007 when I had learned that not all LED colors cost the same or perform the same, and that blue had been very difficult or impossible for a long time. Now I will finally satisfy my curiosity on the subject (hopefully)

I did electronic engineering in the late 1990s, when the "blue LED" is finally here craze was just hitting. I literally studied this stuff, as it was happening and even still, this video honestly does a better job of explaining it. As an aside, I also remember the absolute marketing-hype at the time, around gallium being the future and how silicon was "going to be replaced" in a few years by this wonder-stuff (which obviously never panned out).