Bioluminescent Life Forms

Being able to see in the dark often does not come easy. For humans, we typically need to find a flashlight, and more times than not, find new batteries to power the device. For animals, it can be different. Some animals may see fine and night, and some animals have large eyes like owls that capture lots of light, and some animals use other senses to gather information about their surroundings. We humans on the other hand are left fumbling for candles when the power is out for any length of time. But there are some life forms that have a completely different approach – bioluminescent life forms. Bioluminescence life forms make their own light and carry it around in their bodies. This paper will address bioluminescence and try to explain it. The first point to know about bioluminescence is that there are many things still unknown about bioluminescence. Sometimes you have to seek a philosopher’s opinion on a subject so complex. Aristotle makes a valid introduction to the meaning of bioluminescence when he suggested, "Some things which are neither fire nor forms of fire seem to produce light by nature."

Bioluminescence is the biochemical emission of light by living organisms. It is a chemical reaction that burns fuel and releases light that barely produces heat- a cold light. Bioluminescence serves the three basic purposes of "finding food, finding mates, and defending against predators," says Edie Widder, co-founder, president and senior scientist at the Florida-based Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA). Up to 80% of our oceanic life has the ability to produce light, and although bioluminescence is rare on land, there are still species such as fireflies, earthworms, and even bacteria that can light up thems...

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...tical profiles of bioluminescence and other physical properties. Recently, the case Lab and Cyril Johnson of the UCSB Physics Electronic Shop has developed a small version of the bathyphotometer which is an underwater vehicle. These instruments are developing every day and getting more complex, helping us understand the mysteries of the glowing creatures.

The impact of this technology and the growing research will influence and modify the future of what we now know of bioluminescence. Even today, there are more scientists creating new, more complex instruments and finding more data that we did not have access to before. There is still many things that we do not know about bioluminescence, and in the future all of these questions will be answered with the right technology and advancing research. Until then, we can enjoy nature’s flashlights - batteries not included.