1 X Ultraviolet Detecting Beads - 250 Beads Per Pack

These UV beads are clear when you are indoors, and only change color when in sunlight. They work in both direct sunlight and shade, provided there is still sunlight. They even worked on a cloudy day, though not as well. There are several different colors, but they are all mixed in one bag and you have no way of knowing what color they are until they are in the sun. This was not a problem for my use.I bought these beads to use in my elementary classroom. I had my students make spacesuits to protect their "astronaut" (made of pipecleaners and these beads) from UV rays. It was a fun activity and these beads worked great!

These beads change color, but not nearly to the degree the photo would have you believe. They're regular UV beads, and they work great as a way to remind kids that they're in the sun and need to regularly apply sun screen. They don't glow in the dark, and they don't come packaged according to color. For reference, I believe the colors are yellow, purple, orange, pink, and blue when in the sun. They look clear in the shade and quickly change back to clear when you get out of direct sunlight. Again, they do not glow in the dark, and the reference photo does not represent the actual colors of the beads. All beads arrived quickly and in tact - would recommend as a teaching tool, but took away a star because it was not accurately represented

I am a passionate art and design guy but live in florida. I was worried about UV damage to the artwork I collect or textiles I have. There are plenty of really expensive UV detectors out there with precise measurement capability …but if you just need to know if the UV is intense enough to fade a piece of art or fabric or a rug, this toy will tell you and you can judge the intensity of exposure by the intensity of the color the beads turn. I’m sharing a photo of the beads next to a southern exposure window and then, the same beads behind UV filtering plexi. This gives me all the information I need to know to protect my stuff from UV driven fading. If you need precise data, this is not an option.

Okay. I bought these to use as a type of warning system that my sunscreen was about to wear off. It was a super popular idea floating around cyberspace last summer when I purchased them. However, I found that these beads do not "hold" sunscreen well. Likely due to the fact that they aren't meant to absorb lotion like our skin. Also, the colors are not nearly as vibrant as the picture shows. Definitely more muted and pastel than a bright vibrant rainbow shown.These are still fun for kids in the sun. THey also do work in ultraviolet light. However, I feel misled about the colors and my rating reflects this. I also feel misled about the warning system I was trying to do but as this is in no way the fault of the beads, I cannot score them on that aspect.

These beads are not UV light detecting. The beads arrived today in a white pouch fully colored, so we thought maybe they were exposed to UV light. We put them in a drawer away from any UV light for an hour or more. They did not turn white. They didn't even fade. They are ordinary beads. DO NOT BUY these beads. I would return them but the hassle to do it for $8.50 isn't worth it and perhaps what the seller is counting on.

Very cool! They turn color pretty quickly, and the intensity of the color (pale to bright) reflects the intensity of the UV light. My kids love beading, so they made a perfect art-meets-science activity. After making necklaces, the kids and I had a good time doing experiments - seeing how they change color outdoors in direct sunlight vs shade, as well as indoors through a window. We even put sunscreen on them at one point took them out into the sun! I've included two photos - one in direct sunlight outside and the other inside getting sunlight through a double-paned window with a screen.

Very useful for UV detection. Surprising results. You get UV rays early in the morning on cloudy days. Plus expose near the edges of shade. I highly recommend using these on your keychain - and even to test you car's windows. Some windows block UV rays, some don't. I even bought special car window film that was supposed to block 99% of rays, but I tested it and it doesn't work as advertised. Really opened my eyes.

I purchased these to use for a STEM activity at my work. I had about 20 kids make aliens and put the UV beads on the extremities and heads of their aliens. We then took them outside to see the UV exposure and then they designed protective gear for the aliens. I was very worried that the beads wouldn't work given how overcast and rainy it was the day of the activity, but they still reacted and after a few minutes had pretty strong color to them. These worked better than other UV beads I've used in the past so I will be sticking to this brand now.