Article by Shoshana Ellis (THS '20)
California’s beaches are glowing! The bioluminescence, also known as “the red tide,” is a rare phenomenon, but what is it exactly? The bioluminescence is light which is produced by energy released from a chemical reaction within a living organism.
The bioluminescence is light which is produced by energy released from a chemical reaction within a living organism.
This chemical reaction is called chemiluminescence which produces a blue glow in the ocean water. During the day, the water takes on a reddish tone, but at night, the dark skies allow the radiating glow to be seen. Most bioluminescent organisms are found in the ocean, including types of fish, jellyfish, and bacteria. While the glow in the water might seem rare, most types of animals from sharks to bacteria have some sort of bioluminescent feature.
The sudden excitement sparked by these beautiful lights has created a problem: Many people have been gathering on the beaches of California, leading to social distancing concerns.
Many people have been gathering on the beaches of California, leading to social distancing concerns.
As the pandemic in today’s world is still apparent, a lack of social distancing at the beach can be detrimental to the universal efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, beach-goers are cautioned to avoid large clusters of people and ensure a safe distance is maintained between themselves and other observers of the neon waters.
This past week, I went with my family to see the natural marvel up close. The view was beautiful: The ocean shone an electric blue beneath the stars, splashing with each fluorescent wave. Not only did the water within the ocean glow, but the dark wet sand on the shores of the beach showed a hint of blue with every step. After a long few months of quarantine, the small trips taken outside my house— that I once may have taken for granted—have given me a heightened appreciation for the beautiful world we live in.
After a long few months of quarantine, the small trips taken outside my house— that I once may have taken for granted—have given me a heightened appreciation for the beautiful world we live in.
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