Tritium Gas Lamps: mini-glow sticks that emit light for 12 years- without recharging by a light source. A nuclear physics toy! The inner phosphor coating shines due to activation by beta radiation from radioactive tritium gas in the vile. Tritium (Hydrogen with two neutrons accompanying the proton in its nucleus) is unstable with a half life of 12.32 years and only emits beta rays (high speed energetic electrons) which are stopped by the glass and plastic- when these electrons impact the Zinc Su