Creatures of Light

They light up our lives, but have you ever wondered how? Delve into the world of living things that blink, glow, flash, and flicker, from tiny fireflies to strange creatures in the ocean depths. The new exhibition Creatures of Light explores the mysterious world of bioluminescence and biofluorescence, visible light emitted by living things. This enlightening experience features larger-than-life models, engaging immersive environments, fun activities, and real animals, fungi, and minerals that get their glow on.

The exhibition is free with general admission.

“Creatures of Light” reveals some of the most magical, wondrous and truly extraordinary creatures and phenomena found in the natural world. The ability to generate light is rare among organisms that live on land. It is much more common in the ocean, where up to 90 percent of animals at depths below 700 meters are bioluminescent. Many of these animals have become particularly compelling to scientists because they may hold important clues to essential questions related to biological research.

In “Creatures of Light,” guests move through a series of re-created environments, from the familiar to the extreme, to explore the variety of ways in which light is used to reproduce, lure unsuspecting prey or defend against predators.

• Peek into the darkness of a New Zealand cave and look up to see twinkling over your head—not from stars but from simulated glowworms.
• Stroll across an interactive Puerto Rican lagoon as you light up a trail of flashes from tiny “pyrotechnic” plankton.
• Explore a North American meadow filled with flashing fireflies and try your hand at re-creating their dazzling mating signals.
• Marvel at gigantic models of bioluminescent mushrooms, fireflies and jellyfish.
• Try a digital coral reef activity that shows how corals fluoresce in shades of pink, orange and green.
• Peer into a tank of live GloFish and discover how fluorescence helps detect pollution and contributes to medical research. 
• Put minerals and scorpions from the Museum collections, along with everyday objects, to the test in the new “Does It Glow?” activity.
• Throughout the gallery, you will deepen your experience with videos, animations, photographs and iPads with additional in-depth content.

“Anyone who has seen an animal or a mushroom glow cannot help but assume it is something magical. However, science will eventually explain all of it,” said Dr. Frank Krell, the Museum’s entomologist and curatorial advisor for the exhibition. “The science behind bioluminescence does not explain its enchantment away, rather it makes these phenomena even more fascinating.”

“Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence” is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org), in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada; and The Field Museum, Chicago.

The exhibition will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through June 10. For more information, visit www.dmns.org/creaturesoflight.