Synopsis

On a summer night, there is a certain enchantment in watching the gentle flicker of fireflies. Few creatures on land possess this ability to illuminate the darkness, yet in the ocean's depths, a remarkable spectacle unfolds: nearly ninety percent of marine species produce their own light. Whether to deter predators, attract food, or entice a partner, bioluminescence—the language of light—permeates the underwater world, and scientists are only now beginning to decipher its complexities. NOVA