What does blue light tell us?

Brain coral bio-flourescence
Brain coral bio-flourescence

A couple of years ago while we were diving in the Caymans I was introduced to bio-flourescence. Prior to that trip, I had been on a number of night dives over the years so I was accustomed to the thought of turning off all of the dive lights and moving your hands about to stir the water to see plankton luminesce or glow in the dark. Okay it was interesting but that was about as far as I got.

Bio-luminesce seemed to be different. Instead of turning off all of the lights we added a blue light, not black light as we all saw in our youths. We added some yellow filters and blue light filters for my strobes. Voila certain critters changed colors and glowed in the dark.

Bahamas anenome under blue light
Giant anemone under blue light

So I was no longer looking at pint sized critters who glowed for a moment or two; now I was looking at much larger corals and creatures that glowed green or other colors, as long as I turned the blue light on them. Cool. What appeared to be the difference between bioluminesce and bio-flourescene was the use of blue lights which which would cause a glowing for more than a few seconds.

After thinking about it for a while, I began to wonder if there was any practical applications for being able to see bio-flourescense. Turns out there is. From my readings it appears that the proteins that glow under blue light can be useful in helping to identify cancerous cells. Hmmm that is kind of interesting. It also turns out that when blue light hits juvenile corals it also glows. Now I am not a scientist, but it would seem to me that that type of information would be useful in identifying whether new corals are growing on a reef or not. Turns out there is some research being done along the lines of using blue light to identify new growth coral. Now that seems to me would be useful in helping to identify whether a reef was growing with new corals, was stagnat or dying. I could see if studied under controlled conditions it would be very useful to identify the health of at least the portion of the reef which would bio-flouresce. I suspect there are still more practical appications for blue light underwater than have yet been considered. So maybe blue light will unlock even more secrets of the oceans and nature and is more than just a cool sight.

72 thoughts on “What does blue light tell us?”

  1. Why users still use to read news papers when in this technological world all is accessible on web?

  2. You made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for more
    information about the issue and found most people will go along with
    your views on this site.

  3. It’s enormous that you are getting ideas from this post as well as from our dialogue made at this place.

  4. I simply want to tell you that I’m very new to blogging and seriously loved this web page. Very likely I’m planning to bookmark your blog post . You certainly come with incredible posts.

  5. There’s certainly a great deal to know about this subject.
    I love all of the points you’ve made.

  6. Merely awesome! I recognize you have actually put a great deal of effort right into this as well as I wanted to tell you exactly how happy I am! Hope you placed out even much more outstanding things in the near future and also I will come back and read it!

  7. I visited many web sites except the audio feature for audio songs current at this site is actually wonderful.

  8. I simply want to tell you that I am just very new to blogging and site-building and definitely enjoyed your web site. Likely I’m going to bookmark your website . You amazingly come with good article content. Bless you for sharing with us your web site.

  9. I for all time emailed this website post page to all my contacts, since if like to read it then my contacts will too.

  10. Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing
    around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing in your feed and I’m hoping you write again very soon!

  11. I just want to say I am new to blogging and site-building and really loved this web-site. Likely I’m want to bookmark your blog . You definitely have superb articles and reviews. Kudos for revealing your web-site.

  12. I have read so many content regarding the blogger
    lovers except this paragraph is really a pleasant article,
    keep it up.

  13. I every time emailed this webpage post page to all my friends, since if like to read it next my
    contacts will too.

  14. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading
    it, you can be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will come back
    later on. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great job, have a
    nice day!

  15. Aw, this was a really nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to produce a great article… but what can I say… I hesitate
    a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.

  16. I’ve been surfing on-line greater than three hours lately,
    yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful value
    sufficient for me. Personally, if all website owners
    and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the internet can be a lot more helpful than ever before.

  17. Simply want to say your article is as astounding.
    The clarity for your submit is simply excellent and i could suppose you’re knowledgeable in this subject.

    Well with your permission let me to grasp your feed to keep updated with imminent post.
    Thanks one million and please carry on the enjoyable work.

  18. Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you¦ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What a perfect web-site.

  19. You really make it appear really easy with your presentation however I find this matter to be actually something which I feel I’d never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely wide for me. I’m taking a look ahead for your subsequent submit, I will try to get the hold of it!

  20. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked
    submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr…

    well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say excellent blog!

  21. Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your web site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¦ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and simply couldn’t come across. What a perfect website.

  22. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and also the rest of the website is very good.
    how to get instagram followers instantly

  23. I have been surfing online more than three hours
    today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally,
    if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a
    lot more useful than ever before.

  24. I got this web page from my friend who informed me concerning this web site and at the
    moment this time I am visiting this website and reading very informative articles or reviews at this
    place.

  25. I just want to tell you that I am all new to weblog and certainly savored you’re web blog. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You actually come with impressive posts. Appreciate it for sharing your blog site.

  26. This is a topic which is close to my heart…
    Many thanks! Exactly where are your contact details though?

  27. I’m not positive the place you are getting your information, but great topic.
    I must spend some time studying more or figuring out more.
    Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.

  28. I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking
    for. Do you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind creating
    a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write related to here.
    Again, awesome web log!

  29. *This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!

  30. *After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  31. Write more, thasts all I havе to say. Literally, іt seems as tough you
    relioed on the video tߋ mak youг point. Youu obviously noա
    what youre talking aboսt, whhy throw away youг
    intellignce օn just posting videos to youг site when yoս coulld bе giѵing սs something informative
    tto гead?

  32. I just want to mention I’m all new to blogging and site-building and absolutely liked this page. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your site . You definitely have superb stories. Thank you for revealing your website.

  33. I was suggested this website via my cousin. I am not sure
    whether or not this put up is written by him as no one
    else know such detailed approximately my difficulty.
    You are incredible! Thank you!

  34. I absolutely love your blog.. Great colors & theme. Did you make this web site
    yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking
    to create my own personal site and would like to learn where you got
    this from or just what the theme is called. Appreciate it!

  35. Quality articles or reviews is the crucial to interest the users to visit the site, that’s what this web site is providing.

  36. Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you
    get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything
    you can recommend? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any support is very much appreciated.

  37. Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group?
    There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your
    content. Please let me know. Cheers

  38. John Stones
    Can I just say what a comfort to uncover someone who truly kmows what they arre discussing over the internet.
    You actually understand how to bring a problem to light and make iit important.

    More people need to read this and understand this side of the story.
    I was surprised that youu aare not more popular given that you mmost certainly possess the gift.

  39. I really like what you guys tend to be up too.
    Such clever work and exposure! Keep up the very good works guys I’ve
    incorporated you guys to my personal blogroll.

  40. I have been browsing online greater than 3 hours today, but I never found
    any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s beautiful worth sufficient for me.
    Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you did,
    the net might be much more helpful than ever before.

  41. I really got into this article. I found it to be interesting and also packed with special points of
    view. I like to read material that makes me think. Thanks for writing this great content.

  42. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.

    I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
    Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.

  43. Outstanding blog here! Also your site loads up fast!
    I wish my website loaded up as rapidly as yours.
    Thanks for sharing with us your wonderful
    ideas through your blog.

  44. I feel like I’m continuously searching for interesting things to read about various subjects, but I have the ability to include your
    blog amongst what i read every single day simply because
    you have persuasive entries that I enjoy. Hoping there are far more incredible material coming!

  45. I do not think I’ve scanned anything like this before.
    So great to find an individual with some original thoughts on this subject matter.
    nice one for starting this up. This site is
    something that’s needed on the web, someone witha little creativity.

    Excellent job for bringing new things to the net!

  46. I was just looking at your What does blue light tell us? | My Dive Travels site and see that your site has the potential to become very popular. I just want to tell you, In case you don’t already know… There is a website service which already has more than 16 million users, and most of the users are interested in websites like yours. By getting your site on this network you have a chance to get your site more visitors than you can imagine. It is free to sign up and you can read more about it here: https://spna.ca/1pvm – Now, let me ask you… Do you need your website to be successful to maintain your way of life? Do you need targeted traffic who are interested in the services and products you offer? Are looking for exposure, to increase sales, and to quickly develop awareness for your site? If your answer is YES, you can achieve these things only if you get your website on the service I am talking about. This traffic network advertises you to thousands, while also giving you a chance to test the network before paying anything at all. All the popular sites are using this service to boost their readership and ad revenue! Why aren’t you? And what is better than traffic? It’s recurring traffic! That’s how running a successful website works… Here’s to your success! Read more here: https://spna.ca/1pvm

  47. There are indeed more applications to underwater fluorescence besides those you named, for example testing offshore pipelines for leaks, marking and finding back specific spots underwater (e.g. for follow-ups on coral health and development), for finding back lost dive gear (if marked with fluorescent paint, e.g. Scuba Goop, Trident, Fastencil etc., which is a good idea anyway e.g. to prevent other people from accidentally packing your stuff into their bags), and there is also research going on about fish and other critters using fluorescence to secretly communicate with each other (see e.g. Nico K. Michiels et al., “Red fluorescence in reef fish: A novel signalling mechanism?”, http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6785/8/16/abstract).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *