Two sheets of polarized transparent material, one with a special polymer coating that holds liquid crystals, are adhered together. Electric current is passed through individual crystals, which interpret the information from the broadcast signal to allow or disallow light through them to create an image. The crystals themselves do not produce light, so the technology is "non-emissive" and therefore does not give off radiation like an older television does. Fluorescent tubes housed behind the transparent material illuminate the image. They require less power to operate than CRT and plasma televisions which require powering hundreds of electrodes to stimulate the phosphorous.