Zuthal

the datasheet of this Osram Xeradex excimer lamp says not to touch the lamp while it's in operation, but it's not necessarily because touching the lamp would damage it, or because it gets hot.

the lamp emits 172nm vacuum ultraviolet radiation, shorter-wave and higher-energy than even the UVC emitted by germicidal lamps and EEPROM erasers. it's called "vacuum ultraviolet" because it's absorbed by the oxygen in air, making ozone and excited oxygen. as long as you have ventilation, you can look at a VUV lamp all day with no ill effects. the light emitted in the picture is coming from fluorescence of the lamp envelope, ionization of the air, or both (i'm not sure).

but if there's no air between the lamp and your skin...

It's not my fault the Pokemon Company keeps making those freaky little things so damn sexually appealing

this one was a hit on twitter/tumblr so here it is again :]