Latest news with #BenAlldridge
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Glow-in-the-dark animal captured on camera for first time
It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, no, it's a glow-in-the-dark animal? A photographer from Down Under has become the first person to capture a photo of a glowing marsupial in the wild. Aussie photographer Ben Alldridge submitted a photo as part of the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. The photo was of a wild Eastern quoll, which is carnivorous marsupial that's native to Tasmania and exhibits biofluorescence. Using invisible ultraviolet light, Alldridge captured the mammal glowing in the dark, and his photo is considered the first photographic evidence of a quoll exhibiting biofluorescence in its natural habitat, reported. 'Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence — like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco,' Alldridge said, per the Daily Mail. Smithsonian Magazine reported that several mammals across the globe, many of them nocturnal, are known to exhibit this phenomenon, including polar bears, moles, zebras, wombats, armadillo and more. Non-mammals such as corals, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds also exhibit the phenomenon, although the exact biological purpose of biofluorescence is still unknown. Alldridge said he hopes his photos and studies into biofluorescence will help solve the mystery surrounding it. Recommended video 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said, per the Daily Mail. 'For now, we will just say they like to party.' Alldridge's photography will be considered as part of the ongoing research. 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space — both physical and now literal — is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' Alldridge said. Alldridge's photo is one of 12 finalist images to be exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from Aug. 6-31, as part of the Beaker Street Festival. Experts puzzled as chimps reportedly getting extra cheeky with grass fad Pets can stave off dementia for people over 50 living alone: Study
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Glow-in-the-dark animal captured on camera for first time
It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, no, it's a glow-in-the-dark animal? A photographer from Down Under has become the first person to capture a photo of a glowing marsupial in the wild. Aussie photographer Ben Alldridge submitted a photo as part of the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. The photo was of a wild Eastern quoll, which is carnivorous marsupial that's native to Tasmania and exhibits biofluorescence. Using invisible ultraviolet light, Alldridge captured the mammal glowing in the dark, and his photo is considered the first photographic evidence of a quoll exhibiting biofluorescence in its natural habitat, reported. 'Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence — like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco,' Alldridge said, per the Daily Mail. Smithsonian Magazine reported that several mammals across the globe, many of them nocturnal, are known to exhibit this phenomenon, including polar bears, moles, zebras, wombats, armadillo and more. Non-mammals such as corals, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds also exhibit the phenomenon, although the exact biological purpose of biofluorescence is still unknown. Alldridge said he hopes his photos and studies into biofluorescence will help solve the mystery surrounding it. Recommended video 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said, per the Daily Mail. 'For now, we will just say they like to party.' Alldridge's photography will be considered as part of the ongoing research. 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space — both physical and now literal — is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' Alldridge said. Alldridge's photo is one of 12 finalist images to be exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from Aug. 6-31, as part of the Beaker Street Festival. Experts puzzled as chimps reportedly getting extra cheeky with grass fad Pets can stave off dementia for people over 50 living alone: Study
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Science
- Calgary Herald
Glow-in-the-dark animal captured on camera for first time
Article content It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, no, it's a glow-in-the-dark animal? Article content A photographer from Down Under has become the first person to capture a photo of a glowing marsupial in the wild. Article content Article content Aussie photographer Ben Alldridge submitted a photo as part of the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. The photo was of a wild Eastern quoll, which is carnivorous marsupial that's native to Tasmania and exhibits biofluorescence. Article content Article content Using invisible ultraviolet light, Alldridge captured the mammal glowing in the dark, and his photo is considered the first photographic evidence of a quoll exhibiting biofluorescence in its natural habitat, reported. Article content Article content Smithsonian Magazine reported that several mammals across the globe, many of them nocturnal, are known to exhibit this phenomenon, including polar bears, moles, zebras, wombats, armadillo and more. Non-mammals such as corals, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds also exhibit the phenomenon, although the exact biological purpose of biofluorescence is still unknown. Article content Article content 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said, per the Daily Mail. 'For now, we will just say they like to party.' Article content Alldridge's photography will be considered as part of the ongoing research. Article content 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space — both physical and now literal — is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' Alldridge said. Article content
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Science
- Toronto Sun
Glow-in-the-dark animal captured on camera for first time
It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, no, it's a glow-in-the-dark animal? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A photographer from Down Under has become the first person to capture a photo of a glowing marsupial in the wild. Aussie photographer Ben Alldridge submitted a photo as part of the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. The photo was of a wild Eastern quoll, which is carnivorous marsupial that's native to Tasmania and exhibits biofluorescence. Using invisible ultraviolet light, Alldridge captured the mammal glowing in the dark, and his photo is considered the first photographic evidence of a quoll exhibiting biofluorescence in its natural habitat, reported. 'Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence — like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco,' Alldridge said, per the Daily Mail . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Smithsonian Magazine reported that several mammals across the globe, many of them nocturnal, are known to exhibit this phenomenon, including polar bears, moles, zebras, wombats, armadillo and more. Non-mammals such as corals, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds also exhibit the phenomenon, although the exact biological purpose of biofluorescence is still unknown. Alldridge said he hopes his photos and studies into biofluorescence will help solve the mystery surrounding it. Recommended video 'I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best,' he said, per the Daily Mail . 'For now, we will just say they like to party.' Alldridge's photography will be considered as part of the ongoing research. 'The amount of light we waste illuminating space — both physical and now literal — is ridiculous, and in many cases is counterproductive to why the lights are installed to begin with,' Alldridge said. Alldridge's photo is one of 12 finalist images to be exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from Aug. 6-31, as part of the Beaker Street Festival. Read More Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Relationships Toronto & GTA World
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Remarkable glow in the dark creature captured on camera in the wild ‘for first time' as it lights up in a neon blue
THE endangered Eastern Quoll has been caught on camera glowing a neon blue in its natural habitat for the first time. The creature might look unassuming at first, but Tasmanian photographer Ben Alldridge has captured it glowing in the bush. Advertisement 2 Tasmanian photographer Ben Alldridge Credit: Instagram/benjaminalldridge The blue glowing effect is due to the animal's fur absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emitting visible colours, according to Alldridge. But because the effect is invisible to the human eye, it has barely been studied. It's a phenomenon known to occur in various mammals, including the Tasmanian devil and wombats. Although it has not been widely documented in the wild. Advertisement READ MORE ON ANIMALS "Where their fur is normally fawn or black, under certain wavelengths of light, they exhibit a process referred to as biofluorescence - like nature's version of a white shirt glowing at a disco," Alldridge told the The snaps were taken on a camping trip last year, when Alldridge travelled to a remote area of Southwest Tasmania and was able to get close to a family of Eastern Quolls. Alldridge, a former marine biologist, has been studying biofluorescence for years, so he happened to have the right UV equipment to capture their biofluorescence. Why exactly some animals exhibit biofluorescence - or bioluminescence - is not fully understood. Advertisement Most read in Tech Breaking Breaking Although experts believe it's biological purpose is likely related to communication, camouflage, or mating - especially in low-light conditions. Many nocturnal animals can see UV light or have vision sensitive to blue and green wavelengths, so fluorescence might be a visual signal they can use while remaining less visible to predators. Watch as terrifying Devil Fish normally found in total darkness 6,000ft deep is filmed for FIRST time near hols island "I'd say it's likely a messaging or identifying system similar to our fingerprints, but that is wild speculation at best," he said. "For now we will just say they like to party." Advertisement The remarkable photo is one of 12 finalists for the 2025 Beaker Street Science Photography Prize. Alldridge captured the image using specialised UV-sensitive techniques to see the Eastern Quoll turn from grey to a neon blue. He had previously captured images of the glowing marsupials at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, but never in the wild. "This year's finalists really capture what Beaker Street is all about. Making science visible, beautiful and emotionally resonant," festival founder and executive director, Dr Margo Adler, said. Advertisement "These photographs let us see the world differently, and in some cases, quite literally reveal things we've never seen before." 2 The blue glowing effect is due to the animal's fur absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light and re-emitting visible colours, according to Alldridge Credit: SWNS
