We would be hard pressed to come up with any scientific principle that is established by this demonstration, but it’s a clever illusion, and if Junior’s teacher is the charitable sort, we’re sure that this project would be a most welcome diversion at the next science fair.

The light bulb seemingly glows without being hooked up to anything. As you can see from the diagram, this is accomplished by taking the base from a burnt out bulb and carefully attaching it to another bulb.

The idea appeared 75 years ago this month in the February, 1946, issue of Popular Science.