luminoi

Luminoi is a fictional crystalline substance described in science fiction and worldbuilding as a naturally luminescent mineral.

In the most common depictions, luminoi comprises a host lattice—often a silicate or phosphate—doped with luminescent centers such as rare-earth ions. Exposure to ambient light charges these centers, and the material releases energy gradually as visible light, producing persistent luminescence long after the original illumination stops. The color of the emitted light is variable, depending on dopant composition, and can range from blue to green to amber. Durability is usually described as high: luminoi remains stable under routine environmental conditions and tolerates modest temperature variation.

In fiction, luminoi forms in hydrothermal veins or magmatic rocks where specific chemical conditions trap charge carriers in lattice defects. Reported in asteroid regolith, volcanic caves, or terraformed landscapes.

Its long-lasting glow makes it useful for signage, navigation beacons, and decorative or ceremonial objects; in some stories, it is used as a portable power source by storing light energy rather than electricity. The name derives from Latin lumen.

See also luminescence, phosphor, phosphorescence.