Scintillation is the process by which certain materials emit flashes of light when they absorb high-energy particles or radiation. This phenomenon occurs in various substances, such as scintillation crystals and liquid scintillators, which are commonly used in detectors to measure radiation levels. The emitted light can be detected and analyzed to provide information about the energy and type of radiation. In astronomy, scintillation refers to the twinkling of stars caused by the Earth's atmosphere. As light from distant stars passes through varying layers of air, it bends and refracts, leading to changes in brightness and color. This effect can make celestial objects appear to shimmer, especially when viewed from the ground.