TIL the term "limelight" originated because when heated to 2,400 °C, calcium oxide (quicklime) emits a strong glow. Before electricity this was how theaters lit the stage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_oxide



Submitted February 14, 2015 at 11:36PM by michaelpinkwayne http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2vw3rr/til_the_term_limelight_originated_because_when/