LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS
Scientists discovered the presence of neon in
the atmosphere at the end of the 19th century.
The element and its fellow noble gases—including
argon, krypton, and radon—are tasteless, odorless,
colorless, and largely unreactive. But when
subjected to an electrical charge, they emit various
colors. In the 1920s entrepreneurs recognized
the advertising potential of this, and within a few
years neon signs had started changing the face
of the world’s cities. They eventually defined the
appearance of iconic locations, such as New York
City’s Times Square and the Las Vegas Strip.Photographs and text
by Tommy Trenchard
10
Ne
Neon
Neon creates the red-
and-orange glow most
commonly associated
with the lights, whose
colors depend on the
gas, or combination of
gases, in the tubes.By the 1970s, Hong Kong had emerged as one
of the world’s great neon cities. Signs jostled for
placement in its narrow streets as restaurants,
clubs, and movie theaters tried to outdo each other
in style and size.
⊲READ MORE AT ARGON, KRYPTON, AND XENON◼ Neon $2 / liter 200-liter cylinder