The bamboo coral _Isidella_ displaying bioluminescence in the Caribbean in 2009. Sönke Johnsen, CC BY-ND Our research focuses on octocorals – soft-bodied corals such as sea fans that have treelike ...

The phenomenon of bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago, a new study has discovered. The first animals to ever glow in this way were marine invertebrates called ...

Humans have long been fascinated by organisms that can produce light. Aristotle, who was a scientist as well as a philosopher, wrote the first detailed descriptions of what he called "cold light" more ...

Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in a group of marine invertebrates called octocorals, according to the results of a new study from scientists with the ...

Stephen has degrees in science (Physics major) and arts (English Literature and the History and Philosophy of Science), as well as a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. Stephen has degrees in ...

Hundreds of plants, fungi, and animals can do it. Now scientists think bioluminescence may have evolved 540 million years ago in Earth’s ancient oceans. Research suggests that bioluminescence may have ...

In the dark depths of oceans, hidden forests, and damp caves, certain creatures possess an extraordinary power—to glow in the dark. These are bioluminescent animals, beings capable of producing their ...

Bioluminescence can be found in a variety of creatures, like squid or fireflies, but have you heard of bioluminescent gophers? Researchers have discovered that pocket gophers, which are little ...

Have you ever wondered how some animals glow in the dark? Bioluminescence is a natural ability in particular living creatures to produce light. It happens through a chemical reaction inside their ...

The splendid deep-sea coral Iridogorgia sp. Deep-sea octocorals that are known to be bioluminescent. Credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Note to editors: Photos illustrating this ...

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Written by Danielle DeLeo, postdoctoral associate in biological sciences at FIU. Our research focuses on octocorals ...