Limelight

An intense illumination is created when a flame fed by oxygen and hydrogen is directed at a cylinder of quicklime (calcium oxide),[2] due to a combination of incandescence and candoluminescence.

Although it has long since been replaced by electric lighting, the term has nonetheless survived, as someone in the public eye is still said to be "in the limelight".

The limelight effect was discovered in the 1820s by Goldsworthy Gurney,[3][4] based on his work with the "oxy-hydrogen blowpipe", credit for which is normally given to Robert Hare.

In 1825, a Scottish engineer, Thomas Drummond (1797–1840), saw a demonstration of the effect by Michael Faraday[5] and realized that the light would be useful for surveying.

[9] During the American Civil War in July and August 1863 calcium lights were used during the siege of Fort Wagner, allowing Union forces to illuminate their artillery target at night while supposedly blinding Confederate gunners and riflemen.