Is Bioluminescence The Most Common Form of Communication on the Planet?

Maybe our attempts to communicate with aliens is all wrong

Hiya!

I’ll admit, glowing sea creatures haven’t exactly been on my radar of curiosities. I suppose it seems a bit silly considering how bewildering it is that glowing plants and animals exist in real life and not just in sci-fi stories. I guess it’s because we’ve known of bioluminescence for a while now, so it was probably pushed down the list of topics.

But now it seems it’s a hot topic because I’m seeing it everywhere. Recently, I watched an episode of a docu-series I’ll tell you about later, and the quote I share transformed my perspective regarding the importance and wonder of bioluminescence. Now, I can’t help but see it in a whole new light. (pun intended)

What is Bioluminescence?

I’m sure you know what bioluminescence is, at least in some sense. After all, if you’ve ever seen a firefly, then you’ve witnessed it yourself. Smithsonian Ocean has a great resource that explains how living organisms are capable of bioluminescence. The short of it is that the light emitted by various plants and animals — and everything in between — results from a chemical interaction.

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

But more specifically, light is produced when molecules called luciferin — of which there are several types — react to oxygen or other molecules, while the color largely depends on the environment.

Colors like red or orange are made of longer light waves, making them harder to see underwater because they don’t travel as far. Whereas blue and green light waves are shorter and better able to cut through the water. This is why most water-based organisms capable of bioluminescence emit a bluish-green light.

Some animals even developed a way to speed up the process and seem to be capable of closely controlling their bioluminescent abilities. Amazingly, they do this by regulating their brain processes and chemistry. Even wilder, the Smithsonian mentions this:

“Some organisms even bundle the luciferin with oxygen in what is called a ‘photoprotein’—like a pre-packaged bioluminescence bomb—that is ready to light up the moment a certain ion (typically calcium) becomes present. They can even choose the intensity and color of the lights.”

How cool is that?? Light bombs! Imagine if we could do that! Bioluminescence is a fun and remarkable ability for sure, but what’s its purpose? And why are so many living organisms capable of it?