Vaseline Glass : The Collector S Glassware That Glows In The Dark

Submitted by: Allen Franklin

Vaseline Glass:Did you know glass can glow in the dark? don’t believe it? Normal glass, like the kind used in windows or cookware, can t. However, a special type of glass does glow in the dark: vaseline glass. it is surely a collectors Item. If you collect glassware or just want a unique glass item for your home, then vaseline glass is a must have.

At first vaseline glass appears similar to Depression glass or the green glass used in old Coca-Cola bottles. It gets the name from its yellow, waxy appearance much like petroleum jelly. The big difference between vaseline glass and Depression glass, though, is that vaseline glass glows a pale green in sunlight and bright green when exposed to a black light.

The Special Ingredient which makes it glow Is Uranium

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_x_WaSzxko[/youtube]

Vaseline glass has such spectacular qualities because it s made from uranium salts, which explains the other name for the glass: uranium glass. Don’t get scared with the Nuclear Age term used in your own collections, instead be proud of it! These salts are naturally occurring and contain small traces of the radioactive element uranium. The yellow hue of the sand attracted the eye of glass makers, who have used it to fashion glassware since at least the 1800s, and possibly since Roman times.

Because of the presence of uranium, vaseline glass glows when ultraviolet light hits it. Sunlight contains an ultraviolet spectrum (that s why you wear sunglasses and sunscreen to protect against UV rays), and vaseline glass glows a pale green in daylight. It s when you expose the glassware to a black light that you see the real appeal of the glass. Turn off the lights, crank up the UV, and your vaseline glass will glow a vivid green. A good way to teach your small kids a very very small lesson in sciene.

Don t Worry! Vaseline Glass Is Completely Safe

You may be uneasy just knowing that vaseline glass contains uranium. After all, radiation can lead to many health problems. Vaseline glass, though, is completely safe. Government and scientific studies have shown that it has no harmful effects on health. The only way it could hurt you is if you grind the glass up and inhale the dust.

Most vaseline glass only contains about 2 percent uranium not enough to do anything remotely dangerous. A Geiger counter barely registers vaseline glass above background noise (harmless radiation that is present everywhere in the universe). Some antique vaseline glass, made before the 1950s, can contain up to 25% uranium, but it still has not been shown to pose health risks.

The Perfect Glass Collector s Item

If you re looking for a gift for a glass collector, a piece of vaseline glassware is a gift sure to delight. The US government restricted access to the uranium sands it was made from for many years during the Cold War, but now manufacturers can once again make this beautiful yet eerie glass. It s a perfect time to pick up a piece of glassware that truly is like no other, Get it today and Be a Proud Owner.

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vaseline glass

The Special Ingredient which makes it glow Is Uranium available at http://www.fishseddy.com

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