Shrimpoluminescence

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."

Comments

Re: For proof.

[deglr6328]

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.