that bioluminescence was different that other light—that it was cold. The age of the new world was next to fully recognize life’s glow. Miners at the time used fish skin to light deep holes, and sailors often reported glowing fog below their ships (Today we know this fog to be caused by blooming bacteria). European Explorers, traveling to European unknown areas, identified many new bioluminescent sea and land animals. Even in Hamlet, by Shakespeare, glowworms are mentioned. The world was now much more aware of life light.
Robert Boyle made the next important discovery of bioluminescence in 1667. He found that the light needs air to “fuel” itself. Raphael Dubois later saw another fact about the production of this light. Dubois identified the chemical that created the light as luciferin and the oxidizing catalyst as luciferase. Charles Darwin, on his famous voyage, recorded bioluminescence multiple times and was
"There was a fresh breeze, and every part of the surface, which during the day is seen as foam, now glowed with a pale light. The vessel drove before her bows two billows of liquid phosphorus, and in her wake she was followed by a milky train. As far as the eye reached, the crest of every wave was bright, and the sky above the horizon, from the reflected glare of these vivid flames, was not so utterly obscure, as over the reast of the heavens."
- Charles Darwin 1833
thoroughly perplexed by the natural light. In the Early 1900’s Harvey Edmund Newton lead the field. Over his whole life, Newton worked with bioluminescence.
He discovered that certain luciferase was unique to each species. In 1922 Harvey used his knowledge to create a bioluminescent lamp. Since Harvey
© Grant Regen 2010
This blurred photo of a bioluminescent jellyfish shows the multiple colors emitted from life. While blue and green are the most common colors made, all can be found in nature.