American industrial research laboratory operated by AT&T that produced more fundamental technological breakthroughs per decade than any other institution in history — including the transistor, information theory, the laser, Unix, and C.
Demonstrated that a monopoly-funded, patient, undirected basic research institution could produce civilization-altering technologies across physics, mathematics, and computing — the argument for why industrial basic research deserves sustained funding.
Discussing
Ask anything about Bell Labs — their ideas, influences, contradictions, legacy.
Sign in to start a conversation.