Just an anecdote...
I just got an INOVA X5 UV and have spent the weekend looking for applications so I can explain the purchase to my wife... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif
I found a few applications that I havent seen mentioned, and thought I'd add them here..
If you're a rock hound, you can bring it with you to help find neat rocks.
Peter Gransee of ARC says he uses his to find scorpions, which apparently flouresce...
I also found that it causes plaque (on teeth) to glow red. (Watch your eyes though) It's kind of gross, but really helps you see where your brushing habits need improving. I would have a hell of a lot less metal in my mouth if I knew about this when I was younger. Of course I'd also probably be blind... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif
This is kind of gross, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif but I picked up an athlete's foot type of fungus in Mexico, and I noticed that it too flouresces red under UV. The neat thing is that I can see if the foot powder I'm using is doing anything to kill it over time, also since UV kills fungus, the very act of looking at it also helps to kill those little commie *******s. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Looking up medical applications of UV on the web, I noticed that several skin affecting micro-organisms flouresce; i.e., ringworm, tinea versacolor etc... So it would be a quick way to diagnose what is going on with you or your pets or kids or friends or whatever...
One last thing, if you have access to any diamonds, you can check to see if they flouresce. If you are buying a diamond ring or ear rings for your wife/girlfriend, bring a UV light with you... If everything else is the same between two diamonds, the one's that DON'T flouresce are purer, and thus more valuable than those that do. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
If y'all find anything else that UV is good for let me know... I'm still working on that explination before the American Express bill comes in... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Hope this helps some of you to rationalize the purchase... Bottom line UV is fun, and that yellow warning sticker on the X5 just makes me feel dangerous... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif