The Lava Lamp Has Turned 50; Here's Some Groovy Video

By Mark Memmott

Published September 3, 2013 at 8:29 AM CDT

Not much more needs to be said, man: The lava lamp " first hit stores in Britain on this day in 1963."

According to The Associated Press, the groovy light "was created by British inventor Edward Craven-Walker, who was inspired by an odd-looking liquid-filled egg timer he saw in a pub in southwest Britain."

There are many lava lamp apps out there. Videos, too. We'll post this serenely simple one. Dim the lights, sit back and enjoy if you wish.

Mark Memmott

Mark Memmott is NPR's supervising senior editor for Standards & Practices. In that role, he's a resource for NPR's journalists – helping them raise the right questions as they do their work and uphold the organization's standards.

See stories by Mark Memmott