Fish spitting ostracod fireworks

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Fish spitting ostracod fireworks
#wow #nature #fish #fireworks    #gif  

via http://xeeme.com/LADYTEREZIE

Ostracods are one of the ocean-living animals which give off light when they are disturbed.

They produce the chemicals luciferin and luciferase, which emit light when mixed together. The process is called bioluminescence, an adaptation that allows animals to be seen in the complete darkness of the deep sea.

To demonstrate why organisms are able to generate light, ostracods were put into a tank containing cardinal fish, which eat plankton.

When an ostracod is swallowed, it emits a burst of light, making the cardinal fish spit it out.

Read more at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/28838200

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The Starry Sky under Hollow Hill

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The Starry Sky under Hollow Hill
Image Credit & Copyright: Phill Round
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140830.html

Look up in New Zealand’s Hollow Hill Cave and you might think you see a familiar starry sky. And that’s exactly what Arachnocampa luminosa are counting on. Captured in this long exposure, the New Zealand glowworms scattered across the cave ceiling give it the inviting and open appearance of a clear, dark night sky filled with stars. Unsuspecting insects fooled into flying too far upwards get trapped in sticky snares the glowworms create and hang down to catch food. Of course professional astronomers wouldn’t be so easily fooled, although that does look a lot like the Coalsack Nebula and Southern Cross at the upper left …

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