# Need a crystal that generates light from pressure

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-crystal-that-generates-light-from-pressure/708244>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 26, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-crystal-that-generates-light-from-pressure/708244 "2014-12-26T22:47:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-crystal-that-generates-light-from-pressure/708244/1 "2014-12-26T22:47:00Z")

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I know there are crystals that produce electricity from pressure, and crystals that produce sound from electricity. I have a vague memory that there are crystals that produce light from mechanical energy…maybe I’m remembering something that sparks when you step on it?

Anyway, if someone knows, please tell me what the name of this process (mechanical energy directly -\> light) is and what sort of crystal would do that?

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**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-crystal-that-generates-light-from-pressure/708244/2 "2014-12-26T22:52:16Z")

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[Triboluminescence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboluminescence)

For an example, break a wintergreen lifesaver with your teeth while looking in a mirror in a very dark room.

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**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-crystal-that-generates-light-from-pressure/708244/3 "2014-12-26T22:53:16Z")

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Piezoluminescence is the word. (Generating electricity is piezoelectricity.)

Googling it, it appears table salt and LSD are among the crystals that do it, but I can’t vouch for either of them.

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**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-crystal-that-generates-light-from-pressure/708244/4 "2014-12-26T22:59:09Z")

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> [@Kamino\_Neko](#):
>
> Piezoluminescence is the word. (Generating electricity is piezoelectricity.)

Yes, this is a better answer to the OP’s question. The more generic term is mechanoluminescence, which includes both piezoluminescence and triboluminescence.