Luminous Creatures: The History and Science of Light Production in Living Organisms

by Michel Anctil

Naturalists in antiquity worked hard to dispel fanciful ideas about the meaning of living lights, but remained bewildered by them. Even Charles Darwin was perplexed by the chaotic diversity of luminous organisms, which he found difficult to reconcile with his evolutionary theory. It fell to naturalists and scientists to make sense of the dazzling displays of fireflies and other organisms. In Luminous Creatures Michel Anctil shows how mythical perceptions of bioluminescence gradually gave way to a scientific understanding of its mechanisms, functions, and evolution, and to the recognition of its usefulness for biomedical and other applied fields. Following the rise of the modern scientific method and the circumnavigations and oceanographic expeditions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, biologists began to realize the diversity of bioluminescence's expressions in light organs and ecological imprints, and how widespread it is on the planet. By the end of the nineteenth century an understanding of the chemical nature and physiological control of the phenomenon was at hand. Technological developments led to an explosion of knowledge on the ecology, evolution, and molecular biology of bioluminescence. Luminous Creatures tracks these historical events and illuminates the lives and the trail-blazing accomplishments of the scientists involved. It offers a unique window into the awe-inspiring, phantasmagorical world of light-producing organisms, viewed from the perspectives of casual observers and scientists alike.

Genres: Science, Biology

488 pages, Hardcover

Published May 30, 2018

About the author

Consult my official website for info.

Reviews

[Callie R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I should provide a disclaimer - this is not a book about the biology of luminescence. It’s a book about the study of the biology of luminescence. So if you want to know more about these fascinating creatures read a different book - preferably with colored photos. If you want to know about a dry list of a bunch of white guys going on voyages and their academic lineages, and their academic snubs, then read this book.

[The Inquisitive Biologist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and thoroughly researched, Luminous Creatures shines a light on the history of scientific research on bioluminescence. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2018...