Thus, phosphorescence literally means "having a tendency to bear light". It was first recorded in 1766. The term phosphor had been used since the Middle Ages to describe minerals that glowed in the dark. One of the most famous, but not the first, was Bolognian phosphor.

Who invented phosphorescence?

In one of the most well-known accidental discoveries in the history of physics, on an overcast day in March 1896, French physicist Henri Becquerel opened a drawer and discovered spontaneous radioactivity.

What is the origin of phosphorescence?

The term phosphorescence comes from the Greek: ljJwc; = light (genitive case: ljJoroc; ~ photon) and ljJo(JElV = to bear. Therefore, phosphor means "which bears light". The term phosphor has indeed been assigned since the Middle Ages to materials that glow in the dark after exposure to light.