Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow.COLD LIGHT: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow ANITA ANITA Antarctic Impulse Transient Antenna ANITA Ammonia and Nitrification Analyzer SITARSKI Fireflies and fires have this in common: Light is emitted from electrons as they lose energy. Fires and light bulbs are left out as Sitarski chronicles "cold light" for readers over age 9. The chemicals that react to create visible light from animals were elucidated in 1885 by the French scientist Raphael Dubois. He removed and pulverized the parts of a fire beetle that emitted light. After mixing the resulting powder with a variety of solutions, he concluded he had two chemicals, which he subsequently named luciferin luciferin (loosif´  rin),n a chemical substance present in certain luminous organisms that, when acted upon by the enzyme luciferase, produces a glow called and luciferase luciferase (loosif´ rās´),n an enzyme present in certain luminous organisms that act to bring about the oxidation of luciferins; energy produced in the (lucifer translates to "light bearer" in Latin). These chemicals have since been found in other bioluminescent bi·o·lu·mi·nes·cence n. Emission of visible light by living organisms such as the firefly and various fish, fungi, and bacteria. bi organisms, ranging from single-celled dinoflagellates dinoflagellates minute aquatic protozoa; they produce red pigment and toxins which are taken up by shellfish without apparent ill effect, but the toxin is not metabolized and the shellfish may poison animals if eaten. to certain petite squids. While lantern fish use a luminescent lure to attract prey, scientists have learned to use cold light to help them with research. By inserting the genes from bioluminescent jellyfish into other cells, scientists can watch the fluorescent cells under a microscope and see where they move and proliferate within animals. Boyds Mills Press, 2007, 48 p., color photos, hardcover, $16.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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