Making of Creatures of Light

What goes into the making of an exhibition about organisms that glow? Curator John Sparks, marine biologist David Gruber, and firefly expert Marc Branham discuss what's most surprising about bioluminescence, what it takes to produce a scientifically accurate model of a bioluminescent animal, and how to re-create the experience of scuba diving on a magnificent coral wall.

Creatures of Light (March 31, 2012 - January 6, 2013) introduces visitors to the astonishing variety of bioluminescent organisms and explores the various ways they glow, the functions of bioluminescence, and how scientists study this remarkable characteristic.

The exhibition unfolds through a series of immersive environments, beginning in a forest of bioluminescent mushrooms and taking visitors through a meadow filled with fireflies, a bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico, coral reefs, and the deep sea to highlight the ways in which different animals use bioluminescence to attract mates and prey, and to threaten predators. Along the way, see live flashlight fish and special equipment, including a scale model of a deep-sea submersible.

To learn more about the exhibition, visit amnh.org

Creatures of Light: Nature's Bioluminescence is organized by the
American Museum of Natural History, New York,
in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada,
and The Field Museum, Chicago.

Generous support for Creatures of Light has been provided by
the Eileen P. Bernard Exhibition Fund.

Video credits:
Images:

David Gruber
Jim Hellemn
Tsuneaki Hiramatsu
Neil van Niekerk
John Sparks
AMNH/R. Mickens
FMNH/L. Smith
Edith A. Widder

Video:
AMNH/Department of Exhibition
David Conover
David Gruber

Music:
Tony Higgins,
"When I Dive It Just Feels Normal"
For more information about the artist, go to: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ton...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[CuriousMoth]

Woow, that's awesome. I wish I could glow.

[MrJason300]

Amazing =)

[VictoriaStudios666]

I went there! That sucks that that angler fish and viper fish were modles... Besides 20 mins before closing time was just enough time 2 go through. And i also thought it was cool that the Crystal Jellie`s genus is Aequorea Victoria. Also why did it smell weird?

[strawberryviolation]

He studies bioluminescence and his last name is Sparks.

[zayacraz14]

they r mock ups

[zayacraz14]

i went there for my birthday which was may 5th its a walkthrough but it is not wat u think it isalso all u will see is models and one water tank filled with flashlight fishes.so 2 me it was very borin and like 10 mins.

[MEGAONE302]

That's sucks, I imagine it would be very difficult to keep alive deep ocean creachers, but I'm still going tomorrow...

[Wendy Stetson]

They are mostly models. It's not like an aquarium or a zoo where you are seeing primarily the real animals. It's large scale models showing every detail.

[Raffi McGregor]

Are these mock ups or actual animals? I live in NY and I've seen posters of this exhibit all over Manhattan, but I don't believe these are real....unless someone who's attended wants to chime in

[bankofmiso]

this show is going to be awesome

[thefocusmyth]

awesome