Bioluminescence in the deep sea: How and why do animals create their own light?

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: Learn more about MBARI’s research on 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: Twitter: Instagram: Tumblr: LinkedIn: And now, TikTok: @mbari_news Follow the Monterey Bay Aquarium on social media: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Tumblr: Twitch: TikTok now too: @montereyaq