It is a transcript of an episode of Untold Earth, a sequence from Atlas Obscura in partnership with Nature and PBS Digital Studios, which explores the seeming impossibilities behind our planet's strangest, most unusual pure wonders. From fragile, untouched ecosystems to acquainted however unexplained occurrences in our personal backyards, Untold Earth chases perception into pure phenomena by way of the voices of those that know them finest.
Lucy Greeley: The closest factor I can suppose to imagining bioluminescence with out it being bioluminescence are the celebrities. It is magical that within the sky you possibly can see all these stars after which within the water you possibly can see all these stars. I feel that is what makes it so charming for lots of people.
Narrator: From Aristotle to Darwin, humankind's efforts to know bioluminescence spans hundreds of years. However despite the fact that it is one of many oldest fields of scientific research, the solutions stay elusive. What's it about this inscrutable thriller that conjures up such obsession?
Rob Purser: Properly, the historical past of Suquamish Tribe, we have been right here for hundreds of years. We had villages all by way of this instant space over within the Hood Canal and on the Bremerton and throughout Kitsap Peninsula.
Lucy: There is not actually that a lot recognized about bioluminescence within the Salish Sea. I feel that is what makes it actually particular is lots of people take into consideration bioluminescence in these tropical areas, however we have now it proper up right here on this very various and wealthy atmosphere.
I grew up in Seattle, Washington. I did not actually know that a lot about it. I went to 1 sleepaway camp and I bear in mind getting woken up in the midst of the evening. The advisors all pulled us campers all the way down to the shore and began swimming in it. And we have been like, what? That is loopy. After which I realized about this internship and I used to be like, that's good.
So bioluminescence is a chemical response that happens in a dwelling organism in an oxygenated atmosphere. If we take into consideration plankton generally as a variety of tiny, actually tiny microscopic free-floating organisms, inside that there are a gaggle of plankton known as algae.
Microscopic algae are cut up up into two totally different sectors, considered one of which is diatoms after which the opposite are dinoflagellates. And what I am are dinoflagellates as a result of a few of these dinoflagellates are bioluminescent.
Carrley Smith: My identify is Carrley. I have been guiding right here. We're working right here for a few month. And the cool factor about tonight and for the bioluminescence excursions is we have now Lucy right here.
I am taking up her internship this summer time with the hopes to maintain doing it each summer time so somebody can come and preserve following up on the analysis.
We'll paddle out of the bay right here. After which there is a cool little lagoon that we'll go into. All proper, Crystal, your rudder's coming down. You could have steering. We'll see you on the market.
So they are not going to begin bioluminescing till they know it is nighttime now. So those that we're seeing now are simply the early risers. They simply have their cup of espresso. They're simply popping out. If we have been out right here at 2 a.m., extra of them can be bioluminescing as a result of they know it is nighttime as a result of it is so energetically pricey for them.
They put it aside for when it is going to be good. Go paddle round. Some patches will probably be higher than others. However mess around, work out a approach that's actually cool to see them and tell us. It is lovely. Sparkle, sparkle.
I do not suppose you possibly can really feel them, however it nearly appears like you possibly can. It makes it actually magic seeing it in your pores and skin, in your fingers. It is so cool.
Lucy: We take samples as we're doing these excursions and guiding folks, after which we get to return and do some lab work on it. The enjoyable half about this analysis is typically it signifies that Carrley and I grow to be slightly nocturnal as a result of we are attempting to course of a few of these samples proper as we get again.
I used to be making an attempt to establish some dinoflagellates that have been current in the course of the bioluminescent occasions and who may possibly be taking part in that… Looks as if extra diatoms. That might be some type of algae.
And I discovered 4 recognized bioluminescent species that have been in all my samples. There's analysis carried out that within the deep sea ocean the place gentle cannot penetrate, 90% of organisms can emit bioluminescence.
There's such a standard type of communication amongst this species and on this earth and that it is simply one thing that is so onerous for people to review that we've not thought that a lot about. That's thrilling and that is enjoyable to see and I feel that which may even be one proper subsequent to it proper there.
Both of them might be emitting bioluminescence. It is so fascinating how all of them are single-celled organisms. They do not appear to be they're multifaceted they usually do not appear to be they're sophisticated, however but they create this factor that is so particular to see.
Dave Sigo: Fishing on the Salish Sea? Properly, I like each a part of it.
It is our proper. It is what we do. for our folks. My grandfather, he traveled throughout harvesting salmon, and my dad too. Attempting to show the youth easy methods to keep on what we're doing right here and protect it. I do know what's round right here. You understand, it is onerous to catch salmon when that stuff lights up your neck as a result of it is similar to a giant flashlight down there. I imply, a giant wall of lights is what it appears to be like like. And I all the time questioned what that stuff was about.
Lucy: Bioluminescent algae that we're involved with, we're nonetheless sort of determining why they could be utilizing it. The primary of which is possibly that it is scaring or gorgeous a predator, the second that possibly it is attracting a secondary predator, and so then one thing eats the predator going after these bioluminescent algae.
There's positively an evolutionary benefit to it as a result of so many various issues have advanced the flexibility. These bioluminescent algae are very a lot on the backside of the meals chain after which that in flip can serve to supply a variety of oxygen in our environments. Little small fish will eat plankton after which larger fish like salmon can eat these smaller fish and all the best way up into marine mammals equivalent to seals and our orcas.
It is all interconnected and it is a actually particular atmosphere. Within the Salish Sea area, we do not really know lots about how these bioluminescent algae might be affecting the well being of this ecosystem. And so I feel that that is actually necessary about what Carrley and I's analysis is tackling in that we are attempting to reply these extra primary questions that may hopefully present a solution about whether or not extra considerable bioluminescent algae is nice or dangerous for this ecosystem, or whether or not or not it does not have an affect, or possibly it is nearly having the best steadiness of those species.
I feel what drives me is the thriller of a variety of it. You possibly can put in your goggles and your snorkel and swim in it and it is proper in entrance of your eyes and it is so particular to have one thing magical like that which you could actually work together with. I feel it performs into that very same sort of childlike, explorative habits in me.
It is pretty.
