The light is produced by a chemical reaction that involves a light-emitting molecule called luciferin and an enzyme called luciferase. When oxygen interacts with these compounds, light is produced.

In the world of bioluminescence, it’s common for organisms to get luciferin—the small molecule needed to make light—from their diet. Scientists have hypothesized that bioluminescent fish make their ...

Gallen. Getting it to glow all hinged on a parasite known as ringless honey fungus, Desarmillaria tabescens, which produces luciferin. Under the right conditions, this luciferin glows as the ...