Why Do Animals Glow? The Science of Bioluminescence

From Deep Look.

Some animals don’t just survive in the dark — they light it up.

From deep-sea predators to insects on the forest floor, living organisms across the planet have evolved the ability to glow. This phenomenon, known as bioluminescence, has appeared independently dozens of times in nature. But why?

In this episode, we break down how bioluminescence works at the molecular level. Special compounds like Luciferin react with enzymes called Luciferase to produce light — no electricity required.

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