This year is the fiftieth anniversary of the laser. The American Physical Society has its own website, LaserFest, dedicated to the occasion. Spencer Weart, retired director of the Center for History of Physics at the American Institute of Physics (my employer) has also just completed a new web exhibit, “Bright Idea: The First Lasers”. It is directed at a general audience (and, if I may introduce a slight grumble on this note, the exhibit text does start with that pop-history chestnut that has become the bane of history professors everywhere: “Since ancient times….”), but I hope that professionals will find the use of multimedia appealing, too. The web design is by Ada Uzoma, who is also helping me with my new web resource, and she’s really done a lovely job with integrating images and sound into the exhibit. Have a look. For our older web exhibits, go here.