There are several 'cool' mechanisms that result in materials luminescing or emitting light. Artificial luminescence has often been created by mimicking nature and there are many examples of applications in society. It is very likely that most of your students will have observed luminescence in one form or another, such as glow sticks, high-visibility jackets, sea creatures that glow in the darkness of the deep sea, fireflies and highlighter pens. This article explores the nature of luminescence and introduces some interesting natural and synthetic examples. It also reports on some innovative applications of luminescence in food science and medicine, and introduces a range of activities to engage and challenge your students. Luminescence, a term first used by Eilhardt Wiedemann in 1888, is a phenomenon that can be integrated into chemistry, physics and biology studies, and it offers a wow factor for students.