Post-transition elements; the 3d group; and lanthanides(4f group) incorporated in conventional glasses (here, made from mixed oxides), glass-ceramics or sol-gel glasses, can be luminescent, when hit by high-energy particles and/or photons, if the inorganic ions are surrounded by appropriate neighbour atoms. Radiative and non-radiative transition probabilities determine quantum efficiency and luminescent lifetime, which both can be modified by surrounding atoms, by changing temperature, and also by energy transfer to adjacent species.The glassy materials can be shaped into wave-guides, allowing highly sensitive detection, and signal transmission in optical fibers with compatible glass composition.