UV Light Bulbs
Have you ever seen a black light before? A black light, also known as ultraviolet light or UV light, is a really neat piece of technology. Unlike a traditional light, a black light only gives off light in the blue, violet and ultraviolet wave spectrum. Because of this, some awesome things happen when you turn on UV light bulbs.
Not only are black lights fun because they make white things glow in the dark, it's also very helpful and practical for gardeners. But first the fun part of UV light bulbs, white things like clothes, socks, teeth, pens and more will glow in the dark (or glow very brightly) when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Black lights are very popular in amusement parks and haunted houses during Halloween to give off a sufficient amount of light, while still keeping the the room dark. And amusement parks use a special hand-stamp that is invisible to the naked eye, until it's placed under a UV light.
Down to some geeky "why this happens" stuff. What you are actually seeing when something glows under a black light are called phosphors, which emit light when they're exposed to radiation.
It actually converts TV radiation from invisible black light to visible white light. And that's why white things seem to glow under UV light bulbs.
Black lights come in all different shapes, sizes and even different types. Of course you can always find the standard, incandescent black lights, but you can always find black lights in the form of CFL (compact fluorescent), LED and even more.
UV-A lights have a wavelength range of 315 to 400, and this type of light is great to promote photosynthesis in plants. Because of the wider spectrum than UV-B, plants benefit more from this type of black light.
UV-B lights have a wavelength range of 352 to 368 and are used to help keep fish, plants and reptiles alive and healthy in their aquarium. This is also the type of light police will use at crime scenes.
Of course CFL UV light bulbs are going to be the best option if you plan on using that light a lot, and for long periods of time. CFL bulbs are energy saving bulbs and last years longer than standard bulbs, so go with CFL!
Black lights are also used by local and federal governments to find counterfeit money. Paper money in the United States contain an extremely thin strip of paper inside the bills that are invisible with regular use. But put those bills under a black light and those anti-counterfeit strips will begin to glow inside the money.
Some people have concerns about being exposed to ultraviolet light, and it never huts to ask questions. But standard UV light bulbs for your house or office are not hazardous to your health at all. In fact, spending 8 hours in front of a black light is equivalent to one minute of exposure to the sun on a clear, sunny day. But if exposure is important, there are filters and shields to totally get rid of the UV radiated light.
UV light bulbs are also used by crime scene investigators and forensic scientists while investigating crime scenes and looking for evidence that would normally be invisible to the naked eye. It has so many different applications from fun and games, to growing plants and keeping reptiles happy, to tanning beds and solving crimes.