Bioluminescence
- “how does bioluminescence work”
- “why do sea creatures glow”
- “bioluminescence vs fluorescence”
- “why is bioluminescence blue”
:: COMPARE ::
BioluminescencevsFluorescence
The short answer
Bioluminescence generates its own photons chemically and works in total darkness. Fluorescence merely absorbs incoming light and re-emits it at a longer wavelength, so it needs an external source. Most 'glowing coral' photographs are fluorescence, not bioluminescence.
Side by side
| Aspect | Bioluminescence | Fluorescence |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a light source | No | Yes |
| Works in the dark | Yes | No |
| Energy from | Chemistry | Incoming light |
| Coral photos | Rarely | Usually |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Bioluminescence rather than Fluorescence are usually searching for phrases like “how does bioluminescence work”, “why do sea creatures glow”, “bioluminescence vs fluorescence”.
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