The Glow Below

Key takeaways

Bioluminescence plays a crucial role for many deep-sea creatures, aiding in hunting, communication, and evasion of predators.
The data collected through deep-sea exploration provides vital insights into ocean health and the complexity of marine ecosystems.
Interactions with bioluminescent organisms can evoke powerful emotional experiences, illustrating the deep connection we share with the ocean.
The study of light in the ocean presents unique challenges as visibility changes drastically in different depths, requiring innovative research methods.

Summary

Diving into the Deep Sea

In this episode, Molly Webster converses with oceanographer Edie Widder about her dive into the world of bioluminescence and the peculiar behavior of light in deep sea environments. Widder recounts her experiences as a grad student in the 80s and her quest to research marine life that produces light. She describes her first encounters with bioluminescent organisms, vividly painting the experience of interacting with these astonishing creatures that flicker and glow.

The Mysteries of Bioluminescence

Widder elaborates on the various functions of bioluminescence, explaining how creatures utilize it for hunting, mating, and evading predators. With fascinating tales about the giant squid and anglerfish, she highlights the roles that light plays in the survival of deep-sea species, including communication through luminescent displays which could signify mating rituals or alarms to warn of predators.

Understanding Light in the Deep Ocean

The podcast dives deeper into the complexity of light in ocean environments, where different organisms produce luminescence in intricate ways. Edie Widder shares findings from her submersible dives and her observations of the 'flashback phenomenon', where disturbances in water create bioluminescent displays. This triggers curiosity about the interplay between marine organisms and their environment.

Reflections on Exploration and Connection with Marine Life

Edie reflects on her experiences and how they connect humanity to the mysteries of the ocean. The episode concludes with a touching story from Molly about witnessing bioluminescence in a pond, reinforcing the profound emotional connection that bioluminescent experiences evoke in individuals.

Show notes

A call to oceanographer Edie Widder about a fish with a very odd immune system quickly becomes something else: a dive into the deep sea, into a world of brilliant light. But down there, the light doesn’t behave like light -- it sparkles and glows, but also drips, squirts, and dribbles. Today, find out how creatures make the light and how they use it, from hunting and hiding to maybe even … talking. And hear about a series of mysterious moments where Edie goes from studying the creatures to becoming one of them.

EPISODE CREDITS:
Hosted by - Molly Webster
Reported by - Molly Webster
Produced by - Maria Paz Gutierrez
with help from - Molly Webster
Fact-checking by - Diane A. Kelly

LATERAL CUTS (Other Radiolab episodes you may like):
Octomom - https://radiolab.org/podcast/octomom
The Darkest Dark - https://radiolab.org/podcast/the-darkest-dark

EPISODE CITATIONS:
Documentary -
Coming soon, there’ll be a new doc about Edie’s life and work studying bioluminescence in deep sea creatures. According to Edie, “A Life Illuminated”, contains some of the best deep sea bioluminescence footage ever recorded. It’s from our friends at Sandbox Films, and director Tasha Van Zandt.
https://www.sandboxfilms.org/films/a-life-illuminated/

Books -
Edie Widder wrote a memoir! Go read, “Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea”.https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564185/below-the-edge-of-darkness-by-edith-widder-phd/

Videos -
It’s not in the episode, but a few years back, Edie’s fame reached new heights when she captured footage of a never-before-seen Giant Squid … here’s the story, and video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krDdv9KLmuM

Articles -
A look at some glowing shrimps.
https://zpr.io/3jyHWi7VFBw5

A photo gallery of different types of deep sea glow, from different types of deep sea creatures, including one of counterillumination, which Edie talks about in the episode.
https://zpr.io/hdFFsArGjhau

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