These creatures stay merry and bright during long winter nights all by themselves – no string lights required.

While humans have taken to hanging up twinkling lights to cope with dark environments, other creatures have found even more creative ways to light up the darkness &ndash; by producing light with their own bodies.
Animals and fungi evolved bioluminescence for nearly every reason under the moon: from luring prey, to camouflage, alerting others of danger or attracting a mate - being able to produce your own light can have many advantages.&nbsp;
Come see some bioluminescing creatures, including flying squirrels, fish, and fungi, up-close at a very merry Meet a Scientist in the Grainger Science Hub. From 10am to 12pm you can talk with experts and learn why producing your own light is more than just a cool party trick.
Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.
During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the Grainger Science Hub. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum&rsquo;s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there&rsquo;s a world of science to explore.
Visit the Science Hub on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Photograph of the bioluminescent millipede Motyxia sequoiae (Loomis & Davenport, 1951)

Meet a Scientist: Bioluminescence

Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.
During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/grainger-science-hub">Grainger&nbsp;Science Hub</a>. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum&rsquo;s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there&rsquo;s a world of science to explore.
Visit the&nbsp;Science Hub on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Meet a Scientist

See the latest science firsthand in the Grainger Science Hub.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 17

Meet a Scientist

Tags

See the latest science firsthand in the Grainger Science Hub.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, December 17