Fun Fact: Glow-in-the-dark things

Some plants and animals use a chemical process called bioluminescence to glow in the dark. Other creatures and substances, including man-made products, are fluorescent and glow when a black light is shone on them. The firefly and glow worm are probably the most famous bioluminescent insects. Several species of scorpions glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. Many plastic toys glow under ultra-violet light. The moon jellyfish is one of several jellyfish that are bioluminescent. Many species of coral, a close relative of jellyfish, are bioluminescent. There are several species of fungi that glow in the night. The anglerfish has a light-producing organ called a photophore that it uses to attract prey.
Black lights
Black lights work because when UV light waves hit an object that contains phosphors, it will naturally fluoresce, or glow. Black lights will not give you a sunburn, but long-term exposure can damage the skin, so some people prefer to wear gloves when working with them.
Solving crimes
Many bodily fluids contain fluorescent molecules. Forensic scientists may use ultraviolet lights at crime scenes to detect blood or other substances that might otherwise be undetectable. Blood by itself does not glow under a black light, but if it comes into contact with a fluorescent chemical called luminol, it glows blue when exposed to UV light.
Luminescence
Luminescence is a process that occurs when a substance emits light without heat.
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is a type of luminescence that takes place in atoms or molecules. The atoms or molecules emit visible light when there is a supply of excited energy. Fluorescent substances absorb ultraviolet light and then glow when they re-emit it.
Phosphorescence
Phosphorescent materials (phosphors) make light much the way fluorescent materials do; they radiate visible light after being energised. One difference between these two types of luminescence is the ability of phosphors to glow for a period of time after the energy source is removed.
Bioluminescence
Some plants and animals give off light in a process called bioluminescence. These creatures have a special enzyme called luciferase and a pigment called luciferin that converts stored energy into light without creating heat.
Chemiluminescence
Chemiluminescence is the emission of light (luminescence) due to a chemical reaction. Glowsticks or lightsticks emit light as a result of chemiluminescence. This tends to be a two-part reaction in which energy is released (by bending the stick) and then used to excite a coloured fluorescent dye.
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