“This is incredible! I’ve never seen lightening bugs before!”
This was a common saying while at training camp for X-Squad.
Lightning bugs; the very thing I’ve grown up with, was once more considered astonishing. Rightfully so! Dive into the anatomy of how they illuminate such light (Bioluminescence) with me for just a moment and then watch what happens when you consider the fact that our lives too can and need to be bioluminescent.
Bioluminescence. By definition it is the ability to make/emit light through a process of chemiluminescence. I won’t bore you with the scientific details of how bioluminescence works but if you are interested in such information here is a great link: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/bioluminescence/
For now I quote scattered statements from an article regarding bioluminescence in animals and organisms of the sea which I will later reference.
* Dinoflagellates: Tiny critters that light up whenever the water around them moves; these are responsible for the sparks and trails of light you sometimes see when swimming or boating on a dark night.
* As a place to live, the ocean has a couple of peculiarities. The first is that in most of it, there is nowhere to hide. This means invisibility is at a premium. The second odd thing is that as you descend, the sunlight disappears. This means that most of the ocean is pitch-dark. All day, all night. Together these factors make light uniquely useful as a weapon—or a veil.
The Danger of the Ocean & Methods of Approaching it
* Consider the problem of invisibility. In the upper layers of the ocean—the part where light penetrates—any life-form that does not manage, somehow, to blend in with the water is in danger of being spotted by a predator—especially a predator swimming beneath, looking up. Many life-forms solve this problem by not being there at all. They avoid the light zone during the day, rising toward the surface only at night. Many others solve it by evolving into transparent, ghosty creatures. On the dive, the first thing you’d notice is that nearly all the life-forms you meet, from jellyfish to swimming snails, are see-through. In another approach, some fish—think sardines—dissolve their silhouettes by having silvery sides. The silver functions as a mirror and allows the animal to blend in by reflecting the water around it.
Using Bioluminescence: Offense and Defense
* And some creatures—such as the shrimp Sergestes similis, certain fish, and many squid—use light. How? By illuminating their bellies so as to match the light coming down from above. This allows the animals to mask their silhouettes, donning a kind of invisibility cloak.
* Some creatures give off light when touched, why is that? First, a sudden burst of light may startle a predator, giving the prey a chance to escape. A deep-sea squid, for example, can give a big squirt of light before darting off into the gloom. The green bombers can throw their light grenades, and then disappear into the darkness while the predator is distracted by the light. The ctenophore can vanish while the predator lunges at its ghost.
* Second, on the principle of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”, giving off light may serve to summon the predator of the predator. Known as the “burglar alarm” effect, this may be especially important for tiny life-forms, such as dinoflagellates, that cannot swim fast
Why am I possibly boring you with this high school science class blog post? Well, God speaks great messages to me when I learn about the world we live in and life of all that is around us. Frequently, I venture out to connect with the outdoor world, walking barefoot, noticing the little things, and feeling and seeing what can so easily be overlooked. In those moments a message is often found. Hence, why so many classmates in school called me “Brother Earth” haha. That my friends is what has happened with the creation of bioluminescence. Water has always been a reference of life, especially in the bible, but what a picture the author of this article paints-not even knowing it- with her story in regards to our life, struggles and God’s gift of light.
The way fish/organisms use bioluminescence in the ocean seems controversial to how we often approach situations in our lives. When in a dangerous situation, vulnerable to attack, my first method of action is to blend in with what’s around me by becoming transparent, shrinking to the situation. Not sticking out to much, playing it safe, becoming like the world around me or hiding in the shadows so not to be harmed. Yet wouldn’t life be much easier if we could take hold of the situation and confidently swim around not worried of what’s underneath us? What about when struggles do come your way and offense is needed to be taken? What if you can’t fight that fish on your own? The writer brings up a great point that some lifeforms like dinoflagellates, can’t swim fast: “For such extremely small beings, water is to viscous to allow a quick getaway, it would be as if you were trying to swim through molasses. The chief defense for these creatures is no fight or flight-but light.” I don’t know about you but there have been plenty of numerous periods in my life where I feel as if I am stuck in molasses trying to escape the predator of depression or lack in faith. Situations like this leave you with two options, struggling through the thick on your own or throwing a Light grenade at what’s after you to bring the army to attack it.
All these scenarios may be possible to live through on our own but come with much more ease when ‘Light’ is brought into the situation. Almost as if ‘Light’ is meant to be our primary means of survival.
“We are not the water around us. We are not meant to blend in to find safety. Not meant to become invisible just to find safety, for there is nothing of this world/water than can bring us safety. On the other end, though in our minds, makes us vulnerable Lighting up is what makes us safe.”
Referenced Article: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/luminous-life/judson-text
