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Hinea brasiliana - courtesy of The Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
Obviously, trying to understand the properties of the shell and how this material specifically diffuses and amplifies the bioluminescence has broad implications in commercial development of better optical materials (fiber-optics, perhaps?). But, can you imagine engineering these properties into the leaves or bark of a tree? Or into specific areas on your wall or ceiling? Soft, energy efficient lighting with little or no pollution. Understanding and replicating this phenomenon seems like a ripe area for garage scientists. How about a science fair project looking at the transmission of light through this (and other) shells as a function of wavelength? Is the shell acting like a filter? A lens? What is the chemical and structural composition of the shell? Do small pores allow the selective diffusion of light? Does the light transmit backwards through the shell? Do related species of snails transmit different wavelengths of light? Is the light really amplified or is it just an illusion? Maybe it’s time to pop into the Dark Lab and answer some of these questions…
Reference:
Deheyn D. and Wilson N., Bioluminescent signals spatially amplified by wavelength-specific diffusion through the shell of a marine snail. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences), Dec 15 2010.
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