What is radium paint?

Radium paint is a luminescent paint that contains radioactive radium, historically used to create glow-in-the-dark effects on watch dials, instrument panels, and other items. The paint glows due to the radiation emitted by radium, which excites the phosphorescent materials mixed in. However, the use of radium paint was largely discontinued due to health concerns, as prolonged exposure to radium can lead to serious illnesses, including cancer. Today, safer alternatives are used for similar applications.