Neon gets its name from the Greek word neos, meaning “new.”

It was first discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers.

Neon is a colorless gas, but it glows a bright orange-red when placed in an electric field. Neon lights use other gases to produce different colors. Its glow is so bright that it’s visible even in daylight.

Most neon was formed through nuclear fusion in stars, primarily from oxygen and helium via the alpha-capture process. While it is rare on Earth, it is the fifth most abundant element in the universe—after hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and carbon.

The first neon lights were actually early precursors to plasma television technology.

Neon is lighter than air and is a monatomic gas, meaning it exists as single atoms rather than molecules.

Liquid neon can be used as a cryogenic refrigerant due to its low boiling point.

The highest natural concentrations of neon are found in the atmosphere, but large-scale commercial extraction occurs primarily in countries like Ukraine and Russia.

Most commercially used neon is recycled, and properly sealed neon tubes can last up to 20 years.

The first neon signs in the United States appeared in 1923 at a car dealership in Los Angeles, California.