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Deck prism (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 4 days ago by Plum@lemmy.world to c/wikipedia@lemmy.world

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[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 17 points 4 days ago

For centuries, sailing ships used deck prisms to provide a safe source of natural sunlight to illuminate areas below decks. Before electricity, light below a vessel's deck was provided by candles, oil and kerosene lamps—all dangerous aboard a wooden ship. The deck prism laid flush into the deck, the glass prism refracted and dispersed natural light into the space below from a small deck opening without weakening the planks or becoming a fire hazard.