Glow: Living Lights

June 1-September 29, 2013

A living organism’s ability to produce its own light is one of the most incredible, yet least understood, phenomena in nature. A new exhibit opening this spring at the Academy promises to illuminate this intriguing subject.

Glow: Living Lights takes you on a journey through land and sea in pursuit of creatures with the incredible ability to produce their own light. Fireflies, glow worms, and rarely seen alien-looking creatures from the middle ocean are just a few of the animals lighting up the dark through a mysterious process called bioluminescence. Dramatic video, live organisms, rare preserved specimens, models, and hands-on activities will enlighten and engage families. Kids can even don firefly and sea creature costumes and pretend to be their favorite glowing animals.

You will begin your journey in a darkened gallery filled with rare photographs, film footage of bioluminescent creatures, preserved specimens, and engaging activities. As you travel through the exhibit, you will begin to understand that bioluminescence is a chemical process that differs from other forms of light, some of which also will be on display.

You will see:

• live swimming dinoflagellates (single-celled organisms) that light up at the touch of a button 
• details about how researchers are using natural light-producing abilities to detect harmful bacteria and even the presence of deadly anthrax spores 
• live emperor scorpions and desert hairy scorpions that glow under ultraviolet light 
• and much more!

Glow: Living Lights, produced by Exhibit IQ, is free with regular museum admission.

Academy members can be among the first to see this new exhibit at the Member Preview on Friday, May 31 5:30 p.m. –8:30 p.m. For more information, visit our Membership page.