Glow-in-the-Dark Mushrooms: Nature’s Night Lights | National Geographic

right now we’re not sure why the fungi

right now we’re not sure why the fungi bioluminesce then that’s what we’re

bioluminesce then that’s what we’re

bioluminesce then that’s what we’re trying to do right now is figure out why

trying to do right now is figure out why

trying to do right now is figure out why so organisms bioluminesce for various

so organisms bioluminesce for various

so organisms bioluminesce for various reasons but it’s probably all started

reasons but it’s probably all started

reasons but it’s probably all started out from just basic detoxifying

out from just basic detoxifying

out from just basic detoxifying processes that happen in the cells and

processes that happen in the cells and

processes that happen in the cells and some of the antioxidants as they break

some of the antioxidants as they break

some of the antioxidants as they break down give off light as these traits

down give off light as these traits

down give off light as these traits evolve other organisms go on to gain

evolve other organisms go on to gain

evolve other organisms go on to gain additional functions like fireflies use

additional functions like fireflies use

additional functions like fireflies use their light system for mating and

their light system for mating and

their light system for mating and communication between species a lot of

communication between species a lot of

communication between species a lot of that also happens inside the marine

that also happens inside the marine

that also happens inside the marine environment but right now we’re not

environment but right now we’re not

environment but right now we’re not exactly clear as to why mushrooms do it

exactly clear as to why mushrooms do it

exactly clear as to why mushrooms do it the experiment that I’m performing out

the experiment that I’m performing out

the experiment that I’m performing out in the field is a an ecology experiment

in the field is a an ecology experiment

in the field is a an ecology experiment where we are trying to understand the

where we are trying to understand the

where we are trying to understand the interaction of the mushrooms with

interaction of the mushrooms with

interaction of the mushrooms with insects and so to do this we’re using

insects and so to do this we’re using

insects and so to do this we’re using fake acrylic mushrooms that we’ve

fake acrylic mushrooms that we’ve

fake acrylic mushrooms that we’ve produced in the lab and putting them out

produced in the lab and putting them out

produced in the lab and putting them out in the field covered in glue some of

in the field covered in glue some of

in the field covered in glue some of them have an LED light that has about

them have an LED light that has about

them have an LED light that has about the same wavelength as the mushrooms so

the same wavelength as the mushrooms so

the same wavelength as the mushrooms so it’s producing the same colored light

it’s producing the same colored light

it’s producing the same colored light and so we’re comparing the amount and

and so we’re comparing the amount and

and so we’re comparing the amount and the type of insects that are on the dark

the type of insects that are on the dark

the type of insects that are on the dark traps to the light traps and by looking

traps to the light traps and by looking

traps to the light traps and by looking at the two sets of data we can tease

at the two sets of data we can tease

at the two sets of data we can tease apart know which insects are attracted

apart know which insects are attracted

apart know which insects are attracted to the light and which insects are

to the light and which insects are

to the light and which insects are repelled by the light and which insects

repelled by the light and which insects

repelled by the light and which insects just don’t care about the light through

just don’t care about the light through

just don’t care about the light through this we can better understand the

this we can better understand the

this we can better understand the interaction of these mushrooms with

interaction of these mushrooms with

interaction of these mushrooms with their environment it’s very likely that

their environment it’s very likely that

their environment it’s very likely that the bioluminescence from the mushrooms

the bioluminescence from the mushrooms

the bioluminescence from the mushrooms has some ecological significance in the

has some ecological significance in the

has some ecological significance in the forest based off of our early results or

forest based off of our early results or

forest based off of our early results or early data it definitely looks like

early data it definitely looks like

early data it definitely looks like insects are attracted to the mushrooms

insects are attracted to the mushrooms

insects are attracted to the mushrooms now what role those insects are doing

now what role those insects are doing

now what role those insects are doing requires further study fungi are at this

requires further study fungi are at this

requires further study fungi are at this special moment right now where the

special moment right now where the

special moment right now where the research is really beginning to progress

research is really beginning to progress

research is really beginning to progress and we’re likely to figure out the

and we’re likely to figure out the

and we’re likely to figure out the mechanism within the next few years