Student Article
Why Do Some Animals Glow? The Amazing Science of Bioluminescence
Glow (verb): To shine softly in the dark.
Bioluminescence (noun): Light made by a living thing.
Oxygen (noun): A gas we breathe that helps some animals glow.
Bacteria (noun): Tiny living things.
Have you ever seen an animal that glows in the dark?
Glow in the dark? That’s a real thing!
Some animals can glow all by themselves! This glowing is called bioluminescence. Glow-worms, fireflies, jellyfish, and even some mushrooms can shine in the dark. A giant earthworm in Australia can glow too — it’s about 6 feet long!
The secret sauce: how the glow works
The glow comes from special chemicals in the animals’ bodies. One is called luciferin. When it mixes with oxygen, it makes light. Another chemical, called luciferase, helps speed up the glow. Different animals make different colors — green, blue, yellow, or even red!
Why the ocean glows blue
Some animals have glowing bacteria living inside them. These bacteria help them shine. Squid use these lights to scare away enemies or find food.
Lights with a purpose
Glow-worms shine for a few reasons. The female glow-worm lights up so the male can find her. The baby worms glow to warn predators not to eat them because they are poisonous.
Bugs, mushrooms, and sneaky tricks
Other animals use glowing tricks. Some fireflies pretend to look for a mate, but really, they are trying to catch and eat other bugs! Some glowing mushrooms might be using their light to attract bugs to help spread their spores.
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Glow (verb): To shine softly in the dark.
Bioluminescence (noun): Light made by a living thing.
Oxygen (noun): A gas we breathe that helps some animals glow.
Bacteria (noun): Tiny living things.