Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: Are we ... glowing?
In the 1920s, a Russian biologist studying onion roots made a surprising discovery: underground, down in the darkness, it seemed like the cells inside the onion roots were making their own light.
The “onion root experiment” went on to become something of a cult classic in science, and eventually the biologically-made light was dubbed “biophotons.” In the ensuing century, biophoton discoveries moved from onion roots to bacteria, frog embryos and humans. Today, scientist Nirosha Murugan is on a career-defining journey to learn more about the light. As she and her colleagues study this mysterious phenomenon, they find themselves racing from question to question, wondering what gives off light, where it might be coming from, and what, if anything, it could tell us about life, disease, and even death.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Hosted by Molly Webster
Reported by Molly Webster
Produced by Sarah Qari
with help from Molly Webster
Fact-checking by Natalie Middleton
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Videos -
The “Life Flash” video! Note that fluorescent dye was added to the experiment, by the researchers, to enhance the zinc sparks (youtube.com/watch?v=b9tmOyrIlYM)
Articles -
The Onion Root Experiment (https://www.brmi.online/gurwitsch)
Enjoy this Wikipedia rabbit-hole about Fritz Albert Popp (zpr.io/nxJFcAMvZkBz)
Original Paper on zinc sparks (zpr.io/GfbazBqU3e3y) at the time of fertilization, a moment referred to as the “life flash”
Read more about the “death flash,” (zpr.io/TqG3mcCGYEgQ) and other end-of-life phenomenon, as reported by medical caregivers
Research from Nirosha’s lab on photon emissions (zpr.io/mtpbwSeY4iEp) and brain activity
Research from Nirosha’s lab on biophoton emission (zpr.io/3in9LSmzW6m5) and cancer diagnosis
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Photo illustration by Mikey Burton
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
From the Radiolab podcast: Are we ... glowing?
In the 1920s, a Russian biologist studying onion roots made a surprising discovery: underground, down in the darkness, it seemed like the cells inside the onion roots were making their own light.
The “onion root experiment” went on to become something of a cult classic in science, and eventually the biologically-made light was dubbed “biophotons.” In the ensuing century, biophoton discoveries moved from onion roots to bacteria, frog embryos and humans. Today, scientist Nirosha Murugan is on a career-defining journey to learn more about the light. As she and her colleagues study this mysterious phenomenon, they find themselves racing from question to question, wondering what gives off light, where it might be coming from, and what, if anything, it could tell us about life, disease, and even death.
EPISODE CREDITS:
Hosted by Molly Webster
Reported by Molly Webster
Produced by Sarah Qari
with help from Molly Webster
Fact-checking by Natalie Middleton
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Videos -
The “Life Flash” video! Note that fluorescent dye was added to the experiment, by the researchers, to enhance the zinc sparks (youtube.com/watch?v=b9tmOyrIlYM)
Articles -
The Onion Root Experiment (https://www.brmi.online/gurwitsch)
Enjoy this Wikipedia rabbit-hole about Fritz Albert Popp (zpr.io/nxJFcAMvZkBz)
Original Paper on zinc sparks (zpr.io/GfbazBqU3e3y) at the time of fertilization, a moment referred to as the “life flash”
Read more about the “death flash,” (zpr.io/TqG3mcCGYEgQ) and other end-of-life phenomenon, as reported by medical caregivers
Research from Nirosha’s lab on photon emissions (zpr.io/mtpbwSeY4iEp) and brain activity
Research from Nirosha’s lab on biophoton emission (zpr.io/3in9LSmzW6m5) and cancer diagnosis
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: lnk.to/radiolab!youtube
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X — https://x.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Threads — threads.net/@radiolab
TikTok — tiktok.com/@radiolab
Our newsletter includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration by Mikey Burton
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
