by Aneri Shethji

Have you ever seen fireflies? Those flying bugs emit a glowing light, and you can see this light even when it’s dark outside. Fireflies, along with many other organisms, are bioluminescent.

Bioluminescent organisms can make light. This process is a chemical reaction that takes place in their bodies. For instance, fireflies emit light from their abdomens. Photons, which are units of energy, are created by the chemical process. Visible light is then produced by the photons. This light is usually blue, because blue travels the farthest through water. However, violet, green, yellow, and red are also prominent colors seen in bioluminescent organisms.

Not every bioluminescent organism glows on its own. To make light, several organisms join forces. The Hawaiian bobtail squid glows blue-green in the Pacific Ocean. However, this intelligent species cannot generate its own light. Instead, its body is home to bioluminescent microorganisms. The squid glows because of the bacteria housed inside it.

There are at least 1,500 fish species known to be bioluminescent, including sharks and dragonfish, and researchers continually find new ones. Deep-sea fish like the anglerfish, whose females adorn a lure of shimmering flesh that serves as bait for any food close enough to be seized, are among the most recognizable. Bioluminescent creatures can only be found in seawater. This is due to the fact that few bioluminescent fish can survive low water salinity, or the amount of dissolved salt.

Bioluminescence is difficult for scientists to study. This is because harsh lights have the potential to frighten them away and perhaps harm them permanently. It is quite challenging to gather samples for further investigation because some are even difficult to see under standard lighting.

Bioluminescence is a really interesting subject, with so many questions still unanswered. The next time you see a firefly light up the night sky, think about the chemical reactions that let them shine!

Source:

US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “What Is Bioluminescence?” Ocean Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 5 Mar. 2013, https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/bioluminescence.html.

“What Is Bioluminescence?” Time for Kids , 7 May 2021

Scientific Peer Review by Alysia Mandato

Aneri Shethji:

Aneri Shethji is a 10th grader at North Allegheny Intermediate High School. She is very passionate about science and writing and enjoys getting involved with the community. In her free time, Aneri spends time with friends and family and loves getting outside. She can’t wait to learn more about all that science has to offer, and help others learn it too!