# Am I crazy, or does my computer screen really glow in the dark?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 17, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632 "2003-12-17T22:40:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632/1 "2003-12-17T22:40:59Z")

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my computer screen (in my bedroom) seems to glow for a few minutes after i turn the lights off. my mom thinks i’m crazy. so, am i right?

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632/2 "2003-12-17T22:45:34Z")

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We must both be crazy, because my TV used to do this.

It is due to residual energy in the photons on the innerside of the screen, or something.

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**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632/3 "2003-12-17T22:50:23Z")

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You are probably crazy.

Furthermore the phosphor in the screen is what is glowing. When you turn the lights off the phosphor is still realeasing photons. Try this: cut out a shape with dark paper and stick it to the screen. Then turn the lights offf and remove the shape.

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**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632/4 "2003-12-17T22:52:50Z")

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You are crazy _and_ your computer screen really glows in the dark.

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**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632/5 "2003-12-17T23:45:05Z")

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Works with your TV too. In fact, if you just have a light on (perhaps specifically a fluorecent light, I dunno), that’ll energize it too. My old Tandy TGA monitor hasn’t been used in years, but it’ll glow a bit after I turn the lights off.

Note that if you’ve been watching the TV for a while, you’ll likely ignore this effect, 'cause it gets messed up by the screen image that’s been burned into your eyes for staring so long.

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-crazy-or-does-my-computer-screen-really-glow-in-the-dark/219632/6 "2003-12-18T00:43:15Z")

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I just remembered - I used to shine torches at the TV to get this effect. If you have a small enough source of bright light you can write your name!  
And, I knew it was _something_ begining with ‘ph’ not ‘photons’, ‘phosphor’