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Bioluminescence: The Ocean’s Night Lights

  • Hannah Croysdill
  • Apr 8, 2025
  • 1 min read

As the sun sets and the deep darkness of nighttime in the middle of the ocean surrounds us, we don’t know which way to look. From above, we get an impressive view of the milky way, but below, we see some stars of a very different kind…. bioluminescent plankton!


Bioluminescence occurs when certain marine organisms, such as plankton, jellyfish, and squid, produce light through a chemical reaction. This process relies on a molecule called luciferin and an enzyme called luciferase. When oxygen is present, luciferase triggers a reaction with luciferin, resulting in the emission of light.


Why do they do this you may ask? Self-defence. When tiny plankton like dinoflagellates are disturbed or scared – like when a 2000 tonne research vessel hurtles towards them – they emit the light as a warning in attempt to scare off potential prey. Fascinating!

Shiny and bright phytoplankton!
Shiny and bright phytoplankton!

7 Comments


Hưng Ngọc
Hưng Ngọc
May 15

Wordle Today refers broadly to the daily Wordle puzzle that millions of players attempt around the world. Originally created by Josh Wardle and popularized through viral social sharing, Wordle offers a five-letter guessing challenge with six attempts, using color feedback to indicate correct letters and placements. This article examines the game’s appeal, strategies, cultural impact, criticisms, and variations.

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Sprunki Mustard
Sprunki Mustard
May 01

Bioluminescence is truly fascinating! The way marine life uses light to thrive in darkness is nothing short of magical. It reminds me of how nature works in mysterious ways, like how trees hate you demo explores the hidden complexities of our environment.

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dot cinker
dot cinker
Mar 20

Excellent overview of the luciferin-luciferase reaction. To Will’s point, the mechanical stress from the research vessel's hull is a perfect example of fluid shear triggering these defensive flashes. It is a fascinating survival mechanism. Check March 19 NYT Connections Hints

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Kalidasoy
Feb 26

While the watch has a strong visual identity, it does indeed have the specs to back it up. The ETA C07 inside the Rado is no slouch; it's proven robust and reliable cartier santos rose gold in a number of watches from Tissot, Hamilton, and Certina. With an 80-hour power reserve, it's at the top of the range it plays in. The sapphire box crystal has a double AR coating, and there's a screw-down crown present too – also in bronze.

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ht th
ht th
Dec 19, 2025

Qué buen artículo, muy bien estructurado y con un contenido que realmente aporta. Me gusta cómo se abordan los temas con profundidad pero sin perder la agilidad en la lectura. A veces, esa agilidad es lo que buscamos también en nuestro tiempo libre. Recientemente, me topé con un juego de plataformas muy simpático que me recordó a los clásicos, pero con un toque moderno. Es perfecto para esos breves descansos mentales que todos necesitamos, ofreciendo un desafío justo y mucha diversión sin complicaciones.

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Biological Oceanography

in a Changing Ocean

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© 2025. Biological Oceanography in a Changing Ocean. IOCAG. ULPGC. All Rights Reserved.

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