Believe it or not, the concept of phosphorescence was first discovered way back in the 17th century. In 1602, an Italian shoemaker named Vincenzo Cascariolo stumbled upon a peculiar mineral called barium sulfide.

When exposed to sunlight, this mineral emitted a captivating glow in the dark. Fast forward a few centuries, and we've managed to find numerous phosphorescent materials, including zinc sulfide and strontium aluminate, which are used in many modern glow-in-the-dark products.

You know those glow-in-the-dark products that add a little magic to your life? Well, it turns out that the science behind them is just as fascinating! It all comes down to a phenomenon called phosphorescence. When certain materials, known as phosphors, absorb energy from a light source, they become "excited." After the light source is removed, these phosphors slowly release the stored energy in the form of light, causing that mesmerizing glow we all know and love.