Bioluminescence has evolved independently at least 40 times, in organisms ranging from bacteria to glowworms to fish in the deep ocean (1). In fact, I discovered that over 50 percent of deep-sea inhabitants luminesce.

Humanity has been aware of bioluminescence for a long time—some of the earliest recorded mentions of “glowing wood” come from Aristotle and Pliny the Elder. Pliny also wrote about a clam that would produce a stream of phosphorescent liquid when frightened. These writings led to a fashion trend of glow-in-the-dark banquets after Roman party-people discovered that eating the clams made one’s mouth luminescent for a while.

It isn’t until about the 17th century that we begin to find writings from people trying to understand how different organisms produce light. Robert Boyle, an Irish chemist, physicist and natural philosopher, observed what he called “shining wood”, a piece of decaying wood that glowed. He wondered whether oxygen was required to sustain the glow. After placing a sample of wood into a sealed compartment and pumping out the air, he “could not perceive any Light at all to proceed from the Wood.” (2) His conclusion that oxygen is required for luminescence was the first documented report on the nature of bioluminescence. We now know the luminescence likely came from bacteria or fungus growing on decaying wood, but Boyle’s observation that oxygen is needed to produce bioluminescence still holds up, over 350 years later.

Bioluminescence has evolved independently at least 40 times, in organisms ranging from bacteria to glowworms to fish in the deep ocean (1). In fact, I discovered that over 50 percent of deep-sea inhabitants luminesce.

Humanity has been aware of bioluminescence for a long time—some of the earliest recorded mentions of “glowing wood” come from Aristotle and Pliny the Elder. Pliny also wrote about a clam that would produce a stream of phosphorescent liquid when frightened. These writings led to a fashion trend of glow-in-the-dark banquets after Roman party-people discovered that eating the clams made one’s mouth luminescent for a while.