In later eras, new materials have been closely associated with radical change. The development of paper was as important as the printing press in revolutionising communications. The introduction of gunpowder into Europe transformed warfare. In more modern times, gas lighting only became demonstrably superior to oil and candles with the introduction of the gas mantle, composed of novel materials such as thorium and cerium oxides. A hundred years ago electric filament lamps were made possible by other novel and fairly unusual materials, osmium and tungsten. More recently, fluorescent strip lights and compact high efficiency lights use once-novel phosphors to convert the UV produced by the electrical discharge.
