U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 22

WASHINGTON, March 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

MONDAY, MARCH 22: LASER AT 50

Profile America — Monday, March 22nd. One of the key elements in many of the conveniences of modern life is 50 years old today, when the laser was patented by Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes. While we're all familiar with lasers — many may not know the term stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." In 1960, it was a scientific curiosity, but its applications soon blossomed in many different fields. Today, lasers perform a multitude of jobs, from reading bar codes at the checkout counter, to guiding military weapons, to eye surgery. While laser technology is widespread, its greatest impact is on electronic, computer, and communication equipment — industries which make nearly $270 billion worth of goods each year. Profile America is in its 13th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 187

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 998, 999

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau