Opening envelopes in the dark

[marctwo]

OK, so it's an odd title but it was an odd occurrence.

I was opening an envelope this morning while the curtains were still closed and the room was dark. It was an A4 envelope, the kind where the flap is held closed with a gummy/rubbery type adhesive. Rather than tearing it open, I simply pulled back the flap. As I did so, I noticed a purple glow where the adhesive was being pulled apart. I sealed it back up and tried again. The same thing happened but it was much fainter as the adhesive did not hold as well.

I am losing my mind? Can anyone explain what was going on? Was I just generating a large static charge or is my postman an Alien?

[zippy500]

Phosphorus is used in the glue

[The Henk]

Haha! I dare you to lick it!

zippy500 said:

Phosphorus is used in the glue

[Justayellowbadge]

Why would you open an envelope in the dark?

Do people generally write to you using glow in the dark ink?

[marctwo]

It seems I have just discovered triboluminescence. You learn something new every day.

http://www.everything2.com/?node=triboluminescence

[R1_NUR]

Haha - yes I have noticed that loads of times. Never thought of looking it up or posting on a forum about it tho. Until now!

Here is another for you then. Did you know that if you squeeze a piece of fresh orange peel close to a naked flame the mist ignites? Smells great too.

[Flintstone]

I first noticed this years ago (no idea why I was opening mail in the dark).

They all said I was mad when I told them

[tribbles]

The effect wears off after a couple of times - when I first saw it (also years ago), I was opening post for the office around winter when it was dark in the morning. I then showed a few people, but it didn't want to be repeated too often until I got another envelope.

[Pigeon]

It works pulling sellotape off the spool as well.

[cougargirl]

What worries me is that there will be many people playing with sellotape in the dark tonight, now...

[Davi]

cougargirl said:

What worries me is that there will be many people playing with sellotape in the dark tonight, now...

No need to wait for dark - basement office here, I will be turning all the lights off in a few moments