Besides Rudolph, What Life Forms Glow in the Dark?

Last Updated (Tuesday, 28 December 2010 08:43) Written by Raymond Nakamura

Of all the seasonal TV shows, my daughter's favourite still seems to be Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, which is almost as old as I am. You can always find red noses this time of year, but a body part that glows is something else. So I'm working on a sequel, in which Rudolph retires to the Island of Bioluminescent Terrestrial Organisms.

Mushrooms

The landing pad of the Island guides Rudolph with blue, yellow and green "foxfire." Mushrooms, such as species of Omphalotus produce a glow Benjamin Franklin used to light instruments in the first submarine, although they didn't work so well went it got colder. I guess that means the Island shouldn't be too close to the North Pole. Some have even suggested developing bioluminescent Christmas trees that don't need other lights.

Fireflies

On a flight around the Island, Rudolph meets Fred, a lonely firefly. Although the chemicals involved in producing his glow may have begun as a cell antioxidant, they are now about love and self esteem. Adult fireflies are beetles that use light to attract mates. Fred doesn't trust the signals because they can be misleading. Rudolph encourages him to take chances anyway. Unfortunately, he gets eaten by an deceptive female predator that mimicked signals of Fred's species.

Snails

While line dancing in the park with other seniors one evening, Rudolph meets Les the Snail (Dyakia striata), a 15 mm snail from Malaysia that produces green light flashes when it moves. My daughter used to have running shoes like that. Adult snails give off light more faintly and less frequently. Some stop altogether. The purpose of light is not known, but Rudolph invites Les to join line dancing.

Worms

One evening, Rudolph takes his unilluminated sweetheart for a picnic. They accidentally disturb Pat, a half metre long earthworm also known as Diplocardia longa who secretes a glowing fluid. Rudolph encourages Pat to create luminescent paintings to sell to tourists.

Maybe the plot needs some work. Anyway, I hope you have an enlightening new year, full of wonder.