Glow-in-the-Dark Baseball

This past June, the Tri-City Chili Peppers debuted the world’s first game of “cosmic baseball.” The college team from Colonial Heights, Virginia, played through nine innings in a dark stadium. Their only light source? The bright neon glow of their uniforms, bases, bats, and baseballs!

To achieve this luminous effect, the team installed black lights around their stadium. Black lights emit ultraviolet (UV) light, which is invisible to human eyes. The team’s uniforms and equipment were treated with chemicals called phosphors. Phosphors are fluorescent—they absorb UV light and give off visible light.

Cosmic baseball was a hit with both fans and players. This summer, the Tri-City Chili Peppers will take their glow-in-the-dark game on tour across the country, putting a colorful spin on America’s favorite pastime!