Can Materials Change Properties in Response to Different Radiations?

[oror]

is there a material out there that changes it's properties(for example it's color) when a radiation wave come into contact with it?
I need to detect what types of a energies/waves/signals impact a certain object in space (or at least show that radiation hit it some times with great power) without standing near it with a spectrum analyzer or EMF meter all day, and I am not sure about the type of waves/signals that impact it.
do you have any ideas about what material to use to cover that object in space that will give me hints as to what signals/waves influence it? (maybe heat resistant paint?)
will a metal enclosure that cover the object will block all type of waves/signals?

 

[trurle]

is there a material out there that changes it's properties(for example it's color) when a radiation wave come into contact with it?
I need to detect what types of a energies/waves/signals impact a certain object in space (or at least show that radiation hit it some times with great power) without standing near it with a spectrum analyzer or EMF meter all day, and I am not sure about the type of waves/signals that impact it.
do you have any ideas about what material to use to cover that object in space that will give me hints as to what signals/waves influence it? (maybe heat resistant paint?)
will a metal enclosure that cover the object will block all type of waves/signals?

Among common materials, polycarbonate plastic is notoriously sensitive to (ionizing) radiation. It tends to produce embedded bubbles proportional to incoming particle ionization density. Search for "polycarbonate track detector "
The entire question is meaningless though if you mean "EM radiation" in narrow sense of "RF/microwave EM radiation"). EMF meters or spectrum analyzers have their bandwidth and directivity limitations, therefore these tools are not very suitable to search for something unknown. I would recommend a broadband (diode-based) power meter for initial investigation.