Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften

GLOW IN THE DARK or why living things glow

Bioluminescence, the. From Greek βιός biós ‘life’ and Latin lumen ‘light’ = the ability of living things to emit visible light.

In the animal kingdom there are countless representatives that are able to glow in the dark by themselves. There are pulsating fungi, shimmering fish, glowing fireflies, iridescent insects, meandering medusae, shimmering snails, wafting soft corals, glowing flagellates, iridescent cockroaches, blinking hatchetfish – there may even be hitherto undiscovered sparkling bat fleas, iridescent turtles and flaming flubber worms.

On this day, the Bionicum will address the questions of how and why bioluminescence has evolved in so many different life forms and what animals & co. glow for in the first place. The exhibition will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with 30-minute talks at 7:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m., and 9:15 p.m.