Scientists make incredible discovery during museum search: 125 mammals appear to glow in the dark

 Photo source: nytimes.com

Did you know that there are actually up to 125 mammals that can glow in the dark? It's pretty fascinating! In a new study, scientists have come to that conclusion. Oh, that's interesting! It turns out this trait has actually been found in a few other mammals like the platypus and the wombat. However, the scientists were surprised to find it happening so frequently. However, it's still not quite clear if the ability to glow in the dark serves a specific biological purpose in mammals.

If you're planning a super fun blacklight party in a natural history museum filled with adorable stuffed animals, you won't have to worry about using a ton of glow-in-the-dark paint. It's going to be an amazing time! Because most mammals will emit light. That's what the latest research indicates! Kenny Travouillon, the friendly curator of mammalogy at the Western Australian Museum, recently made an interesting discovery. He and his team decided to shine ultraviolet light on 125 species of mammals in the museum's collection.

Oh, that's interesting! It turns out that the glow in the dark phenomenon isn't just limited to platypuses and wombats. These adorable creatures were actually identified a few years ago as biofluorescent species. Every time they studied a new mammal species, it would glow with a beautiful array of colors - green, blue, pink, or white - under UV light! For instance, the adorable red fox's pointed ears unexpectedly started glowing a vibrant shade of green! Did you know that polar bears have a really cool feature? When you shine UV light on them, they actually glow like a white T-shirt! It's kind of like how zebras have white stripes and leopards have yellow fur that also glow under UV light. Pretty amazing, right? Wow, did you know that the orange leaf-nosed bat's wings transform into a beautiful stark white skeleton, and its fur starts to glow a lovely shade of pink? It's truly a sight to behold!

 A recent scientific study revealed that fluorescence is actually found in about half of mammalian families. Isn't that fascinating? The researchers kindly mention that they have discovered that fluorescence is quite common among mammals. Fluorescence can be seen in areas such as white and light fur, spines, whiskers, claws, teeth, and even some bare skin. Isn't that fascinating? The dwarf spinner dolphin was the only mammal species that didn't display fluorescence on the outside. However, his teeth were super bright and shiny!

Photo source:  metro.co.uk

What is fluorescence and are mammals capable of using it?

Fluorescence is a really cool phenomenon that happens when a substance, like a protein, soaks up ultraviolet light and then gives off light with a different color. It's pretty neat!

Biologists have been discussing for a while now whether this cool fluorescent glow is helpful for evolution or just a side effect of chemical reactions. Did you know that the protein called keratin, which is found in nails, skin, teeth, bones, spines, whiskers, and claws, is actually biofluorescent? It's pretty cool, right? But hey, it's possible that this optical property is just a happy accident of evolution!

Let's consider the southern marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops), a fascinating creature that calls the underground its home. This mammal has such beautiful yellow-white fur, making it one of the most luminous creatures! The keratin in this adorable marsupial mole's coat might be increased to shield against rough soil particles, and it even has a cool side effect of fluorescence! That's what the researchers think, right? The researchers mention that it is still not clear if fluorescence has a specific biological role for mammals.

But maybe it can be helpful for mammals that prefer to be active during the night or at dusk. For instance, fluorescence can help make them easier to see in low light conditions. It can be quite helpful if you're looking to find a mate or protect your territory. According to the scientists, it seems that fluorescence was found to be most common and vibrant among nocturnal species.

Whether it's an evolutionary advantage or not, it's absolutely fascinating!