什么是生物发光？
Bioluminescence is light produced by a living thing. The light comes from energy released by chemical reactions that take place inside the organism, or in substances it releases.
If you've ever seen a firefly, you've seen a bioluminescent creature. In the ocean, bioluminescence is not as rare as you might think. In fact, most groups of sea animals, from bacteria to sharks, include some species that can glow. Bioluminescent creatures live everywhere in the ocean, from the surface to the deep seafloor.
Scientists don't yet know why every animal does it, but bioluminescence is usually used to warn off or escape from predators, to attract or find prey, or to communicate with others of the same species.
Some sea creatures don't make their own light. Instead, they absorb light, change it and give it off again as a different color. This is called biofluorescence, and it may be used for communication and for finding a mate.
生物发光，就是生物自己发出的光。这种光来自生物体内，或者它释放出的物质中，化学反应所放出的能量。
如果你见过萤火虫，你就见过会发光的生物。在海洋里，生物发光并不像你想象的那么少见。事实上，从细菌到鲨鱼，大多数海洋动物类群里都有会发光的物种。从海面到深深的海底，到处都有会发光的生物。
科学家还不清楚每种动物发光的原因，但一般来说，生物发光是为了吓退或躲避捕食者，引诱或发现猎物，或者和同类交流。
还有一些海洋生物自己不会发光，而是吸收光线，把它转换后，再以另一种颜色发出来。这叫作生物荧光，可能被用来交流和寻找配偶。