MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) | Bioluminescence in the deep sea: How and why do animals create their own light? @MBARIvideo | Uploaded January 2022 | Updated October 2024, 17 hours ago.
A dive into the deep sea reveals twinkling lights in the midst of darkness. This light doesn’t come from the sun—sunlight can’t penetrate to these depths—it comes from the animals that live here. Scientists call this living light show bioluminescence—when living organisms create their own light using a chemical reaction.
MBARI Senior Scientist Steve Haddock and his team are working to decipher the secret language of light in the deep sea. His team’s work has revealed that bioluminescence is actually quite common in the deep. From zooplankton to jellies, fishes, and squid, deep-sea animals have adapted to use light in a variety of ways. MBARI’s work is helping biologists understand how and why these remarkable animals produce their own light.
We’ve collaborated with our education and conservation partner Monterey Bay Aquarium on the development of their newest exhibition, “Into the Deep: Exploring Our Undiscovered Ocean,” opening on April 9, 2022. The groundbreaking exhibition will offer a rare look at the animals that thrive in the least explored area of the planet and will feature an immersive experience recreating the world of deep-sea bioluminescence.
Learn more about the exhibition: mbayaq.co/3Gd6GE0
Learn more about MBARI’s research on bioluminescence: mbari.org/bioluminescence
Monterey Bay Aquarium video production team: Christy Chamberlain, Presley Adamson
Editor: Lou Laprocido
MBARI video production team: Kyra Schlining, Susan von Thun, Madison Pobis
Follow MBARI on social media:
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Follow the Monterey Bay Aquarium on social media:
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A dive into the deep sea reveals twinkling lights in the midst of darkness. This light doesn’t come from the sun—sunlight can’t penetrate to these depths—it comes from the animals that live here. Scientists call this living light show bioluminescence—when living organisms create their own light using a chemical reaction.
MBARI Senior Scientist Steve Haddock and his team are working to decipher the secret language of light in the deep sea. His team’s work has revealed that bioluminescence is actually quite common in the deep. From zooplankton to jellies, fishes, and squid, deep-sea animals have adapted to use light in a variety of ways. MBARI’s work is helping biologists understand how and why these remarkable animals produce their own light.
We’ve collaborated with our education and conservation partner Monterey Bay Aquarium on the development of their newest exhibition, “Into the Deep: Exploring Our Undiscovered Ocean,” opening on April 9, 2022. The groundbreaking exhibition will offer a rare look at the animals that thrive in the least explored area of the planet and will feature an immersive experience recreating the world of deep-sea bioluminescence.
Learn more about the exhibition: mbayaq.co/3Gd6GE0
Learn more about MBARI’s research on bioluminescence: mbari.org/bioluminescence
Monterey Bay Aquarium video production team: Christy Chamberlain, Presley Adamson
Editor: Lou Laprocido
MBARI video production team: Kyra Schlining, Susan von Thun, Madison Pobis
Follow MBARI on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/MBARInews
Twitter: twitter.com/MBARI_News
Instagram: instagram.com/mbari_news
Tumblr: mbari-blog.tumblr.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/monterey-bay-aquarium-research-institute-mbari-
And now, TikTok: tiktok.com/@mbari_news
Follow the Monterey Bay Aquarium on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/MontereyAq
Facebook: facebook.com/montereybayaquarium
Instagram: instagram.com/montereybayaquarium
Tumblr: montereybayaquarium.tumblr.com
Twitch: twitch.tv/montereyaq
TikTok now too: tiktok.com/@montereyaq
