Have you ever wondered how a firefly glowed in the dark? What about anglerfish—how do they have their own light bulbs in the water? The answer relies on a biological phenomenon known as bioluminescence.
In short, bioluminescence is an adaptation where an organism interacts with the environment to undergo chemical reactions that result in light production. Some creatures that exhibit bioluminescence do so by themselves, and others rely on their food in order to produce the light. Most bioluminescent creatures are underwater, creating a survival advantage by attracting prey or scare off predators. Furthermore, many of the chemicals involved in bioluminescence are toxic, making the aquatic environment much better at dispersing the toxins.
The specific chemical at play in triggering the fluorescent qualities of bioluminescent creatures is called luciferin. Technically speaking, there are many forms of luciferin, and their structures can vary from organism to organism. When luciferin reacts with luciferase, an enzyme, a photon of light is emitted. There have been numerous online labs and activities that help you achieve your own bioluminescence experiment, using some chemicals commonly found in school laboratories.
Bioluminescence is a fascinating phenomenon that can be extended into the field of art. At Montana State University-Bozeman, exhibitions of living bioluminescent paintings made with bioluminescent bacteria were created by artists, scientists, and engineers. It’s an example of bioart, which is art made from manipulating bacteria and other living organisms grown in petri dishes. Even still, art can be derived simply by looking at some of the organic bioluminescent creatures that coexist with us on our planet. Certain bioluminescent fungi can look mesmerizing when grown. When tiny organisms called dinoflagellates grow in large numbers, the water they occupy can exhibit a glowing effect that is ethereal to the eye.
Scientists and artists are still playing with bioluminescence as an artform. In recent years, its popularity has grown tremendously as art becomes more innovative in nature. It’s an example of how art and science can balance each other and form something beautiful in its own regard. The next time you find a group of fireflies, know that you are the viewer of a unique art show designed by nature.
