fluorescence
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Bioluminescence Is at Least Half a Billion Years Old
Bioluminescence, the eerie, beautiful phenomena that allows living things to glow, is way more ancient than previously thought, according to a team of researchers that recently studied the ability in octocorals. Octocorals are not closely related to corals, despite their name. They are a group of marine invertebrates that reside—and glow—in Earth’s oceans. But octocorals…
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Freaky Deep-Sea Anglerfish Casts Light in Two Distinct Ways
In May 2021, a Pacific footballfish washed ashore at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach, California. Still in good condition, the rarely seen fish featured spikes along its body, sharp teeth, and a bioluminescent lure. But as scientists would go on to discover, it also had biofluorescent tissue, a characteristic never seen before in…
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Scientists Want to Know Why This Adorable Rodent Can Glow in the Dark
Springhares are cute as can be, but their fur looks kind of dull under normal conditions. When cast under UV light, however, their fur comes alive, featuring vibrant patches of red, orange, and pink. As new research shows, these creatures are now one of only a handful of mammals known to emit a biofluorescent glow.
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The First Fluorescent Frog Ever Discovered Is Ridiculously Cute
Aside from its namesake spots, the polka-dot tree frog is just about the plainest looking frog you’ve ever seen — a boring green. That is, until you turn off your torch and hit it with some ultraviolet rays.