In the 1960s, chemist of Bell Labs, Edwin A. Chandros first discovered that a glowing chemical light was produced when fluorescent dye and hydrogen peroxide was mixed with oxalyl chloride in the United States.

The first glow sticks were produced by Michael M. Rahaut, Laszio J. Bollyky, David Iba Sr, Robert W. Sombathy on the basis of works done by Edwin A. Chandros.