⚠️This fact has been debunked
No credible primary sources or historical documentation support this claim. Multiple sources characterize it as an 'urban legend.' No reputable Edison biographies mention this fear. However, Edison WAS documented to be afraid of X-rays after his assistant died from radiation exposure.
Thomas Edison, lightbulb inventor, was afraid of the dark!
Was Edison Really Afraid of the Dark? The Truth Revealed
The irony seems too perfect: Thomas Edison, the man who brought electric light to the world, supposedly cowering in the darkness. It's a story that's been repeated across countless websites and social media posts. But like many tales that seem too good to be true, this one appears to be fiction.
There's no credible historical evidence that Edison was afraid of the dark. No letters, diary entries, or verified interviews document this fear. Reputable Edison biographies don't mention it. The claim is typically presented without sources—just variations of "Edison revealed this in an interview" with no details about when, where, or to whom.
What Edison Was Actually Afraid Of
Here's the twist: Edison did have a documented fear, but it wasn't darkness—it was X-rays.
In the 1890s, Edison enthusiastically explored X-ray technology, developing fluoroscopes for medical imaging. But the experiments came at a terrible cost. His assistant, Clarence Dally, suffered severe radiation burns and ultimately died in 1904 from radiation-induced cancer—becoming one of the first Americans to die from X-ray exposure.
Edison nearly lost his own eyesight from the experiments. In a 1903 interview with the New York World, he stated bluntly: "Don't talk to me about X-rays; I am afraid of them." He abandoned X-ray research entirely, later adding that he was also afraid of radium and polonium, saying "I don't want to monkey with them."
Why the Myth Persists
The "Edison afraid of the dark" story is compelling because of its irony. It's the kind of paradox that makes for great trivia—except it's not true. The tale likely spread through repetition on "fun fact" websites, each copying from the last without verification.
- No primary historical sources support the claim
- Multiple sources identify it as an "urban legend"
- The story lacks specific details (when? which interview?)
- Reputable historians and Edison biographers don't mention it
Meanwhile, Edison's actual fear—of X-rays—is well-documented with specific quotes, dates, and context. It's a reminder that real history is often more interesting than the myths we create.