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Today’s internet technology would be nothing without Ali Javan, a scientist from Tehran who – together with William R. Bennett – originated the gas laser that is essential in today’s fiber optic communication.

Helium Neon Gas Laser

Ali Javan was born on December the 26th in 1926 in Tehran. He started to study there but moved to the United States after the second World War.

There, he finished his studies in physics and further worked on the atomic clock research. In 1958 he joined the Bell laboratories and there developed the groundwork of the gas laser, a gas discharge Helium Neon laser. Even then he knew of the importance, this invention might have on future technologies.

In the current state, Iraq does not produce enough electricity to cover the demands. The output of the electricity sector is only about half the amount needed. The demand for electricity has been risen by the growing economy and an increasing number of electronic products. To make things worse, electricity is subsidized in Iraq.

electricity ©Flickr Abdulwahab Alhajji

The power system was not affected by the last conflict, but the capacity had to be reduced due to interruptions of major maintenance cycles. Lack of electricity results in increased morbidity and mortality of the Iraq people, because hospitals are often without electricity.