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Article: Mushrooms that glow in the dark?

Mushrooms that glow in the dark?

Mushrooms that glow in the dark?

This month, a wave of alien-looking mushrooms swept through Goa in India, capturing international attention. This spectacle is far from new, with its origins dating back to antiquity - even Aristotle wrote about it in his writings.

The luminescence in these mushrooms is no illusion - it is the result of a complex enzymatic reaction. According to Jay Dunlap, a professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, the enzyme luciferase acts on a substrate called luciferin, causing it to oxidize and release high-energy intermediates as light instead of heat.

 

While bioluminescence occurs in various species, its purpose can vary. Some organisms use it to attract mates, while others deploy it as a defense mechanism to deter predators. Mycena chlorophos, known as the 'nightlight mushroom' or 'Green Pepe' in Japan, utilizes its green glowing light for a unique purpose: contributing to reproduction. Professor Dunlap explains that the luminescent quality of these mushrooms attracts insects, which inadvertently pick up and spread spores as they move through the forest, contributing to the fungal reproductive success.

Want to see them yourself? Late summer and early autumn are the most likely times to spot them, as these months often provide the right combination of moist warm conditions along with decaying material on the forest floor. The occurrence of bioluminescent mushrooms can be very random and extremely rare - let us know if you manage to spot one!

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