# What is bioluminescence?

- Source: NOAA Ocean Facts (ocean-facts.noaa.gov), Public domain, NOAA National Ocean Service, Ocean Facts
- Reading level: Grade 5
- Subjects: Sea Creatures, Animals, Ocean
- Topics: bioluminescence, organism, bioluminescent, animals, light, members
- Length: 106 words, about 1 min
- By: NOAA National Ocean Service
- Original: <https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/noaa-ocean-facts/biolum>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=noaa-ocean-facts/biolum>

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Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism.

The light emitted by a bioluminescent organism is produced by energy released from chemical reactions occurring inside (or ejected by) the organism.

If you’ve ever seen a firefly, you have encountered a bioluminescent organism. In the ocean, bioluminescence is not as rare as you might think. In fact, most types of animals, from bacteria to sharks, include some bioluminescent members.

While the functions of bioluminescence are not known for all animals, typically bioluminescence is used to warn or evade predators), to lure or detect prey, and for communication between members of the same species.

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## Picture credits

- NOAA National Ocean Service, Public domain (US government work) (<https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html>)