Using genetic discoveries based on modern bioluminescent organisms, scientists have estimated coral bioluminescence to have originated in the Cambrian period, about 540 million years ago.

Even before emerging in species such as Moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita), photographed above, bioluminescence first developed in species of coral. From fireflies to glow worms, algae to squid ...

They are a diverse and ancient group of animals that includes some 3,500 species, many of which are bioluminescent. Octocorals can create coral gardens and animal forests in the oceans, particularly ...

The bamboo coral Isidella displaying bioluminescence in the Caribbean in 2009. Sönke Johnsen, CC BY-ND Our research focuses on octocorals – soft-bodied corals such as sea fans that have treelike ...

A bioluminescent bamboo coral (a type of soft coral) called Isidella that was collected in the Bahamas. Quattrini’s team mapped such results in an evolutionary tree that shows how different ...

Deepwater coral specialist Andrea Quattrini’s new paper pins the origin of bioluminescence in corals to more than 500 million years ago Naomi Greenberg Andrea Quattrini shows off her favorite ...

such as among coral, or for predation. Notably, “biofluorescence” isn’t like bioluminescence (what fireflies can do) and cannot be turned on and off. It simply refers to how they reflect ...

You may have seen pictures of blue, glowing beaches under a dark sky. This glow is called bioluminescence. It is emitted by tiny organisms called bioluminescent algae that live in the water.

They are a diverse and ancient group of animals that includes some 3,500 species, many of which are bioluminescent. Octocorals can create coral gardens and animal forests in the oceans ...