Luminous gemstones

Hey there! Have you ever seen a shiny and colorful rock, like a diamond or sapphire, and thought it was pretty? Well, sometimes these rocks, which we call gemstones, can do something even cooler than just shine. They can give off light all by themselves! We call these gemstones "luminous."

Now, you might be wondering, "How do these gemstones just start glowing?" Well, it's because they contain special chemicals called "phosphors." These phosphors absorb energy from light and then release that energy back out as light of their own, or "luminescence."

There are a few different types of luminescence that gemstones can exhibit. One of the most common is called "fluorescence." This is when a gemstone absorbs sunlight or ultraviolet light, and then releases that energy as a soft glow in a different color, like blue, green, or pink. You might have even seen some gems that glow under black light in a nightclub or Halloween party!

Another type of luminescence is "phosphorescence." This is like fluorescence, but the glow lasts longer. When a gemstone is exposed to a bright light source, like the sun, and then taken into a dark room, it might continue to give off a faint glow for a little while. This is because the phosphors are releasing the stored energy more slowly than with fluorescence.

Now, not all gemstones are luminous. Some, like rubies and emeralds, are more known for their rich colors and clarity than for their ability to glow. And even among those gemstones that can exhibit luminescence, some are more vibrant than others. But when you do come across a luminous gemstone, it's pretty magical to see it gleam and shine all on its own!