The Compact Disc (CD) was launched commercially in 1982 by Philips and Sony, introducing the first mass-market digital audio format. Heralded by science outlets like ABC Science as a revolutionary step forward, the format promised superior, noise-free sound quality that rapidly overtook analog vinyl records and cassette tapes. Credit: ABC Science | History In Pictures

Inside a compact disc lies a hidden world of microscopic engineering. 💿 Data is stored as tiny pits and lands arranged in a spiral. A focused laser — thinner than a strand of hair — reads those bumps by detecting how light reflects differently off each surface. Each reflection translates into binary 0s and 1s, which are then decoded back into the music or data we see and hear. It’s a perfect example of how physics and precision engineering made digital music possible. - #science #technology #cd

Throwback Thursday: Maximum Upcycling 💿 In 2015, volunteers in Cheongju, South Korea upcycled 489,440 discarded compact discs, creating this spectacular display on the city's abandoned tobacco processing plant. | Guinness World Records