Lava Lamps

The Lava Lamp (yes, it's a brand name) has been around since 1965, and is still popular today as a novelty item. More for fun and atmosphere than for light, it comes in a startling variety of styles, each with the well-known motion effect. There's even one with a USB connector that plugs into your computer! Lava Lamps consist of blobs of colored wax, which are both lit and heated when the lamp is turned on. A bulb inside lights up the blobs as they slither and curve around the inside of the lamp. If you have an old Lava Lamp, it may be worth money as an antique! Keep Lava Lamps out of direct sunlight, which will fade the colors.