Gizmodo
MPK, a company that has made a name producing glow-in-the-dark paint, has developed self-luminous micro particles called Litrospheres. The new material is said to be inexpensive (35 cents to light up a 8 ½ x 11 piece of plastic that is 1/8" thick), non-toxic, and capable of staying constantly lit for over 12 years thanks to a betavoltaic technology that uses a radioactive gas.
Fortunately, the gas is involves a "soft" emission of electrons that cannot penetrate the glass or polymer wall of the microspheres. So theoretically, you don't have to worry about brain tumors or taking on super powers when using it.
The Litrospheres, which can be injected molded or added to paint, are not affected by the heat or cold and they can withstand up to 5000 pounds of pressure. They can also give off light that is equivalent of a 20-watt incandescent bulb in almost any color imaginable. As you might expect, the first applications of the technology will most likely involve safety equipment—or the clothing and accessories of frequent clubgoers. [Wiki via Treehugger]
Comments
So if I break it open and expose myself to the particles, will I gain superpowers? Can they guarantee that?
I wonder how well it would survive the human digestive tract... And why was glowing poop the first thing that came to my mind...
- Or for spelunking.
@iridius:
I want this information as well.
@iridius and @kumuasata:
So theoretically, you don't have to worry about brain tumors or taking on super powers when using it.
Reading Is FUNdamental!
this is beyond awesome... I want some glowing clothes right now!
...on a realistic note, I doubt this is ever gunna catch on...
I would like to paint my car. Not sure if that would pass for street legal, tho.
"But Officer! I can't turn it off!"
sweet.... obviously pretty low level radiation, nothing that's going to give you 3 balls or anything like that.
Maybe they should use it as an LCD backlight... that would be cool...
@Mondoz: Radioactive Poop!
Sounds like BS to me.....
I can just imagine them developing this a bit further to be brighter than 20 watts, and eventually being able to replace pretty much all interior light fixtures. Maintenance costs go down, lights are always on, and less use of electricity.
This stuff will be great for the outdoors industry, theater, mining, military, anything that needs to operate in the dark.
I can't wait to get my hands on some!
Wonder if it could be safely mixed into tattoo ink..?
Looks cool, but "soft" electrons are known as Beta particles in radiation speak, and while they cannot penetrate your skin, they're not too healthy inside your body. I hope they've bullet proofed the Lithospheres enough that a teething toddler can't munch through the casings.
@med: You say that like it's a good thing.
So you can't eat this then? What a rip.
So it's foam with phosphors in it, where tritium replaces the air in the bubbles?
Oh man
it's the future!
"Is that Plutonium on your gums??"
"Shut up and kiss me!"
Glowing Bodypaint
Glow Worms needed this technology. They sucked in the 80's.
@Y2KGTP: Glowing BS!
5000 pounds per _____? Shouldn't there be a unit of area there? It kind of leaves it open in the Wiki article. 5000 pounds sounds like a lot but not if it's per square mile, for instance. Still, it sounds really interesting.
makes for nice dashboard displays in your car i bet. wheres all the glowing tattoos at? im running out of things to cap on douchebags for. OH this would make an awesome material for night sights for a rifle or pistol... although it might give your position away.
I give this 2 years before they announce that it causes cancer..just like everything else we own in the world.
I can see the adult industry taking off with this real soon.
@NcSchu:
yeah 5000 punds of pressure is a junk figure - my car tires can take 5000 pounds, and do, daily. per square inch is the standard, i think, so perhaps thats what they mean.
@Y2KGTP: cynics unite!
wouldn't hurt, on long night trips for a bic lighter to be made of this stuff. no more fumbling around for a light. hell, make my cigarettes out of it, too. im not scared in the least of big bad mr. cancer. bring it on, isotopes. i fucking dare you.
Dude wait until I get MY bike outfitted with glow in the dark er... glow-in-the-anytime-for-my-entire-adolescence spokes!
Full on Dork-pads to boot! I will be the coolest kid on the block.
Hey MA!
Hello...cancer!
@dhaberer: What? German scheisse videos? Well, if thats your kink...
COOL! Now I can remake my TRON costume and not have to stand in bright light first.
Unfortunately, now I look more like Peter Jurasik's (CROM) character than Boxleitner (TRON) or Bridges (FLYNN).
@periodontist: Article says glass or polymer walls when talking about the microspheres. I suspect that even if a toddler managed to munch through a few of the microspheres the resulting dosage would be pretty minor in comparison to the usual background radiation levels. Definitely something that'd need to be confirmed/checked out.
@BDKENNEDY1 / FORMICAE - read the article.
I wonder what it would cost to paint the front of your house with this mix. NOw THAT would piss off neighbors in "Planned" communities that limit what color you can paint your abode. Paint it THEIR color, but use the Lumispheres.
It's 5000lbs per micro-capsule.
@Skeptical_Geezer: 35 cents per sq. ft. Do math.
@Brock: So I could have glowing trim for like $50 bucks? Count me in!
"Party's at my house. Turn left on maple, right on elm. Second house on the left, brightly glowing yellow trim. you can't miss it!"
How much material do you need for the equivalent of 20W? 1 quart? 1 gallon? 1 microsphere?
A variant of this technology was first envisioned for airport runway lights that only rarely require replacement. And in theory an airport is generally a restricted area, although I could see idoits stealing them whenever possible. The primary danger at an airport is a crash or fuel accident that would burn/melt these puppies and release the internal radiation source into the environment.
Glow in the dark porn movies anyone?
TRON has come
nerd rejoice everywhere
@Y2KGTP: You rang?
@nutbastard:
Manufacturers already use tritium for night sights on firearms. But from the description, this should be a lot cheaper.
@iridius: I believe we know what happened when Adam West tried to get super powers by messing with radioactive chemicals.
@Mike from Boston: There is already glow in the dark tattoo ink, but this would possibly be even better...hopefully it wouldn't be like many ink colors that fade quickly.
@Brock: '35 cents to light up a 8 ½ x 11 piece of plastic that is 1/8" thick' does not necessarily equate to 35 cents per square foot. 8 ½ x 11 is far less than a square foot and 1/8" is far thicker than house paint would need to be, but that doesn't mean they balance out to 35 cents per square foot. Do logic first; then do math.
@med yeah i think this would be great to put in laptop screens instead of having to power lcds or leds. the only problem would be that incessant glow even when its shut off...
and yes, i need a blue glowing suit and remote control frisbee. right now.
@med:
What's wrong with 3 balls?
Ummmmm Radioactive...
@DJJS: yes, that means it will either give you super powers (when you accidentally come into heavy contact) or it will kill you (when you try and get super powers).
Wait 'till the Zune Tatoo guy finds out about this...