Have you ever wondered where glow sticks first got their start? They may have been inspired by nature's unique light shows. In nature, we've seen animals, insects, and micro organisms that literally light up the world around them. The most familiar bioluminescent creatures are glow worms and fireflies, who through biochemical means, produce light. The creatures use bioluminescence to attract prey, repulse predators, and for camouflage. Illumination is used for everything from eating and mating, to basic survival.

Some organisms have the ability to illuminate the stomach -and therefore location - of a predator when they are eaten. Some squid and crustaceans use a bioluminescent mixture that spills into the water around them and confuses their predators. Through countless hours of research, scientists are now discovering the dark ocean depths are actually penetrated by bursts of light from these sea creatures.

Perhaps this is where the idea for glow sticks originally came from! Glow sticks were first developed by the United States Navy for special operations. They used glow sticks for operations that would benefit from a dimmer light source that could be easily shielded. Although still used by scuba divers, glow sticks are also a key element in fun parties and on the dance floor. Useful and fun, glow sticks are a must have for get-togethers.

But what causes a glow stick to emit its eerie glow? The answer to this question is rather… enlightening! Many of us already know the light emitted from those little plastic tubes is a result of a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction is called chemilluminescence. The interaction of the chemicals in the glow stick tube (which are phenyl oxalate ester, fluorescent dye, and household hydrogen peroxide) result in the production of light. The hydrogen peroxide is contained in a glass tube inside the glow stick. When we bend the stick, we are breaking the glass and mixing the chemicals together, giving us light we can enjoy for many hours. Now that you know the “why's” of glow sticks, you can impress your friends at all of the coolest glow-stick parties. No more ignorance for you, now you can let your knowledge shine!

The intensity of the glow and the length of time it stays illuminated differs according to the ratio of chemicals inside the stick. Occasionally, the chemical reaction inside a glow stick is slow, or the light is dull. To get a brighter, faster glow, simply place a glow stick in boiling water for 1 minute, no longer. The light will be more intense, but unfortunately this will cut down the “glow time”. You can do the same thing by placing it in a fire or hotter substance, but that is not recommend as burning the plastics and chemicals may not be good for your health.

The life of a glow stick can also be prolonged by placing it in the freezer. Putting it in a freezer does not necessarily mean the glow stick will last forever. But just like food, it will slow down the chemical reaction thereby giving you a moderate glow that lasts longer.

[tags]bioluminescent, chemilluminescence, phenyl oxalate ester, fluorescent dye, hydrogen peroxide[/tags]