Phosphorescent

[justscience]

A lovely word descriptive of (too many lettered) phosphorescence, a phenomenon some materials have of re-emitting light for a period of time after having absorbed it. Commonly observed in "glow in the dark" toys, key chains, paints, watch hands, etc. Distinct from fluorescent in that the latter only re-emits light while being exposed to a higher energy wavelength light such as ultraviolet. Non-thermal light produced by chemical reactions or biological sources such as fireflies or plankton is also referred to as phosphorescent.

[Slava]

Taken up and treated here.