Latest news with #biofluorescence
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Glow-in-the-dark animal captured on camera for first time
It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, no, it's a glow-in-the-dark animal? A photographer from Down Under has become the first person to capture a photo of a glowing marsupial in the wild. Aussie photographer Ben Alldridge submitted a photo as part of the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. The photo was of a wild Eastern quoll, which is carnivorous marsupial that's native to Tasmania and exhibits biofluorescence. Using invisible ultraviolet light, Alldridge captured the mammal glowing in the dark, and his photo is considered the first photographic evidence of a quoll exhibiting biofluorescence in its natural habitat, reported. 'Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence — like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco,' Alldridge said, per the Daily Mail. Smithsonian Magazine reported that several mammals across the globe, many of them nocturnal, are known to exhibit this phenomenon, including polar bears, moles, zebras, wombats, armadillo and more. Non-mammals such as corals, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds also exhibit the phenomenon, although the exact biological purpose of biofluorescence is still unknown. Alldridge said he hopes his photos and studies into biofluorescence will help solve the mystery surrounding it. Recommended video 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said, per the Daily Mail. 'For now, we will just say they like to party.' Alldridge's photography will be considered as part of the ongoing research. 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space — both physical and now literal — is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' Alldridge said. Alldridge's photo is one of 12 finalist images to be exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from Aug. 6-31, as part of the Beaker Street Festival. Experts puzzled as chimps reportedly getting extra cheeky with grass fad Pets can stave off dementia for people over 50 living alone: Study
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Glow-in-the-dark animal captured on camera for first time
It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, no, it's a glow-in-the-dark animal? A photographer from Down Under has become the first person to capture a photo of a glowing marsupial in the wild. Aussie photographer Ben Alldridge submitted a photo as part of the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. The photo was of a wild Eastern quoll, which is carnivorous marsupial that's native to Tasmania and exhibits biofluorescence. Using invisible ultraviolet light, Alldridge captured the mammal glowing in the dark, and his photo is considered the first photographic evidence of a quoll exhibiting biofluorescence in its natural habitat, reported. 'Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence — like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco,' Alldridge said, per the Daily Mail. Smithsonian Magazine reported that several mammals across the globe, many of them nocturnal, are known to exhibit this phenomenon, including polar bears, moles, zebras, wombats, armadillo and more. Non-mammals such as corals, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds also exhibit the phenomenon, although the exact biological purpose of biofluorescence is still unknown. Alldridge said he hopes his photos and studies into biofluorescence will help solve the mystery surrounding it. Recommended video 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said, per the Daily Mail. 'For now, we will just say they like to party.' Alldridge's photography will be considered as part of the ongoing research. 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space — both physical and now literal — is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' Alldridge said. Alldridge's photo is one of 12 finalist images to be exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from Aug. 6-31, as part of the Beaker Street Festival. Experts puzzled as chimps reportedly getting extra cheeky with grass fad Pets can stave off dementia for people over 50 living alone: Study
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Remarkable glow in the dark creature captured on camera in the wild ‘for first time' as it lights up in a neon blue
THE endangered Eastern Quoll has been caught on camera glowing a neon blue in its natural habitat for the first time. The creature might look unassuming at first, but Tasmanian photographer Ben Alldridge has captured it glowing in the bush. The blue glowing effect is due to the animal's fur absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emitting visible colours, according to Alldridge. But because the effect is invisible to the human eye, it has barely been studied. It's a phenomenon known to occur in various mammals, including the Tasmanian devil and wombats. Although it has not been widely documented in the wild. "Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence - like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco," Alldridge told the Daily Mail. The snaps were taken on a camping trip last year, when Alldridge travelled to a remote area of Southwest Tasmania and was able to get close to a family of Eastern Quolls. Alldridge, a former marine biologist, has been studying biofluorescence for years, so he happened to have the right UV equipment to capture their biofluorescence. Why exactly some animals exhibit biofluorescence - or bioluminescence - is not fully understood. Although experts believe it's biological purpose is likely related to communication, camouflage, or mating - especially in low-light conditions. Many nocturnal animals can see UV light or have vision sensitive to blue and green wavelengths, so fluorescence might be a visual signal they can use while remaining less visible to predators. Watch as terrifying Devil Fish normally found in total darkness 6,000ft deep is filmed for FIRST time near hols island "I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best," he said. "For now we will just say they like to party." The remarkable photo is one of 12 finalists for the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. Alldridge captured the image using specialised UV-sensitive techniques to see the Eastern Quoll turn from grey to a neon blue. He had previously captured images of the glowing marsupials at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, but never in the wild. "This year's finalists really capture what Beaker Street is all about. Making science visible, beautiful and emotionally resonant," festival founder and executive director, Dr Margo Adler, said. "These photographs let us see the world differently, and in some cases, quite literally reveal things we've never seen before." 2
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Insane 'glow in the dark' creature is photographed in the Australian bush for the first time ever
A Tasmanian photographer has become the first person to ever capture an eastern quoll glowing in the bush. Ben Alldridge captured the stunning shot of the animal biofluorescing under invisible ultraviolet light. It is said to be the first time this glowing phenomenon has been recorded in the endangered marsupial's natural habitat. Mr Alldridge said the glowing effect is due to the animal's fur absorbing UV and re-emitting visible colours, a phenomenon known to occur in many mammals including the Tasmanian devil and wombats. 'Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence - like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco,' Mr Alldridge said. Its biological purpose remains speculative with theories it is related to communication, camouflage, or mating especially in low-light conditions. Since many nocturnal animals like marsupials can see UV light or have vision sensitive to blue and green wavelengths, fluorescence might be a visual signal they can use, while remaining less visible to predators. Mr Alldridge said he will continue to work to decode the mystery. 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said. 'For now we will just say they like to party.' For Mr Alldridge, part of his work is ongoing research into the impacts of light pollution and habitat degradation on how these species are living after dark. 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space – both physical and now literal – is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' he said. 'As we get to grips more with the nocturnal world and how these adaptations work, we can start to optimise our own built environments to introduce as little impact as possible.' The remarkable photo is one of 12 finalists announced for this year's Beaker Street Science Photography Prize, Tasmania's premier science photography competition. From dark sky conservation and photosynthesising sea slugs to auroras, slim moulds and high-speed wildlife drama, this year's finalists offer a visual reminder of the wonder, complexity and fragility of the world around us said festival founder Margo Adler. 'This year's finalists really capture what Beaker Street is all about. Making science visible, beautiful and emotionally resonant,' she said. 'These photographs let us see the world differently, and in some cases quite literally reveal things we've never seen before.' The photographs will be on display at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from August 6 to 31.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Glowing, biofluorescent fish originated over a hundred million years ago
Did you know that some fish can glow with different colours?This special ability is called biofluorescence and scientists have now found it dates back over a hundred million years. Two new studies led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History also found that there are more colours of biofluorescence than previously thought - and more species with this power. The authors also suggest this huge variation of colours and patterns could mean the fish are using the glow to communicate with each other. Biofluorescence is where a living organism can absorb light before letting it out again. The result is the creatures seem to glow with different colours and even patterns. It is different to bioluminescence which is when the creatures create the light inside themselves and so can glow in total darkness. The researchers produced a list of 459 biofluorescent species, including 48 species that were not previously known to be also estimated the biofluorescence dated back about 112 million years, with the first instance happening in team also found that fish species that live in or around coral reefs evolve biofluorescence faster than those that live outside of the reef. Most of the species studied were associated with coral reefs. The researchers found there was a sharp increase in glowing species after the dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years was also when there was a rise of modern coral-dominated reefs which the study authors say could explain the sudden surge of the second study, published in PLOS One, the scientists looked at fish they already knew were biofluorescent under special researchers were surprised by the range of colours with some species giving out several colours and patterns.
