14 DAY TRIAL // Phosphorescence is, by definition, luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiations (as light or electrons) and continues for a noticeable time after these radiations have stopped. In most cases, that means that a substance absorbs light during the day and glows for a while during the night.
Dutch design firms Studio Roosegaarde and Hejmans Infrastructure have used this trait to create roads that glow in the night.
Or, rather, they have invented painted lines that glow in the dark after charging by day.
They originally came up with the idea back in 2012, but it took a couple of years for their efforts to bear fruit.
They've proven the worth of their technology by implementing their glowing road lines on a 500-meter / 1640-foot stretch of the N329 highway in Oss.
Photo-luminescent powder was added into the road paint to garner the effect.
Speaking of which, the road lines should be able to glow in the dark for about 8 hours, which should be more or less enough to last from late evening to just before dawn.
Further plans revolve around making the paint smart, to create road markers that can turn on and off, and to allow communication with vehicles, letting them know of upcoming hazards.