Optically transparent glass ceramic materials comprising a glass phase and a crystalline tungsten bronze phase comprising nanoparticles and having the formula MxWO3, where M includes at least one H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cu, Ag, Sn, Cd, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and U, and where 0 < x < 1. Aluminosilicate and zinc-bismuth-borate glasses comprising at least one of Sm2O3, Pr2O3, and Er2 O3 are also provided.