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Shrimpoluminescence

Posted by michael on from the cocktail-sauce dept.

Jeff writes: "Researchers discover that snapping shrimp also emit light. I think this is one of the coolest new words to come along in a while. Hope readers will enjoy slipping "shrimpoluminescence" into casual conversation."

14 comments

  1. Indeed... by RareHeintz · · Score: 5, Funny
    Not to be confused with pimpoluminescence, the perceived amplification of ambient light in the presence of brightly-colored, satiny clothing.

    Sorry, just had to get that one out of my system.

    OK,
    - B

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    http://www.bradheintz.com/
    - updated
    1. Re:Indeed... by DJerman · · Score: 3, Funny

      I thought that was seedy street lighting (or radioactive acne).

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  2. Excellent! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    New trip toy!!!

  3. What water was used in the test? by TheLink · · Score: 1

    Coz if it's normal sea water there are many micro-organisms in sea water that emit light especially if disturbed. So the light may actually come from them, and not from high temperatures.

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    1. Re:What water was used in the test? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it was cocktail sauce, the horseradish is usually to blame but only if its fresh.

    2. Re:What water was used in the test? by timt · · Score: 2, Informative

      Check out more info at National Geographic

  4. Another source by p4k · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    http://shrimp.tripod.com

  5. Not to be confused with... by Muad'Dave · · Score: 0, Offtopic


    Shempoluminescence, which occurs when Moe whacks Shemp on the head. Nyuck, nyuck. WooWooWooWoo....

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    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  6. Since when is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I read about this over a year ago. Why is it just now being reported as "new"?

    1. Re:Since when is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because the editor doesn't read SciAm, and neither do I, and it's the first I've heard of it. Since it does interest me, and that's why I visit slashdot (to read interesting things), then what's wrong with them reporting it here, too?

      Also remember that online, it can be difficult to tell how old a web page is, and especially hard to tell how widely reported it was.

    2. Re:Since when is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Flaimbait? Of course, you are right. Providing links to more information is nothing but flaimbait... Glad the moderators are on the ball.

  7. Re: For proof. by deglr6328 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm mostly convinced by the article that what they saw was a form of sonoluminescence and not Bioluminescence. The flashes of light from Bioluminescent organisms is fairly long in duration [this research describes "an extremely short flash of light" typical of sonoluminescence] since it is a chemical reaction mediated by catalysts in the cells of the light emitting organism.

    I would suggest that for absolute proof of sonoluminescence as the origin of light in this case; that the researchers dissolve a quantity of Xenon or Helium in the seawater and note if the brightness of the flashes increases. Noble gasses are (obviously) not biologically active and would have no influence on Bioluminescence intensity but dissolving a Noble gas in a sonoluminescence liquid dramatically increases it's light emission.

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    - "Hear that?! The percolations are imminent! Cease your ingress!"
  8. Shrimpoluminescence by Lord_Of_The_Beer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can just see me working this into normal conversation. "Your eye's would look wonderful by shrimpoluminescence" Or "It's getting kinda dark can we have some more shrimpoluminescence here" to be honest the whole thing reminds me of a trade mark "Get Shrimp-O-Luminescence today, or you will be left in the dark" besides it probably only applys to shrimp who grew up near the Kursk (sp?)

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    D.A.K.D.A.E.---- Deny all Knowledge, Destroy All Evidence
  9. Sounds like cyalume light sticks by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    You snap them to get them to light up, too.

    Or is that not what you meant by 'snapping shrimp'?

    :)

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    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"