You Glow in the Dark—But You Can’t See It!

It’s not clickbait. It sounds like something out of science fiction, but we actually emit light, just like fireflies and jellyfish. This phenomenon, called bioluminescence, was first captured in 2009 by Japanese researchers using ultra-sensitive cameras. So, why can’t we see it. Well, they found that our bodies produce a very faint glow—about 1,000 times weaker than the human eye can detect. So, while we don’t shine like glow sticks, we are constantly glowing at a microscopic level. How does this happen, you might ask?

This glow is caused by natural chemical reactions inside our bodies. As our cells break down molecules for energy, they produce free radicals (Chem 101, anybody?)—unstable molecules that can damage cells. To neutralize them, the body uses antioxidants, and this process releases tiny amounts of light. This is why the face, chest, and neck emit slightly more glow than other parts of the body—these areas have a higher metabolic rate, producing more reactions and thus, more light.

You want to know something even more interesting? This light fluctuates throughout the day. Researchers found that the glow is strongest in the afternoon and weakest late at night. While we can’t see it with the naked eye, some animals—like certain fish and insects—might be able to detect it. It makes you wonder: what else is happening around us that we can’t see? Our own bodies are glowing, yet it remains invisible to us. Maybe, with future technology, we’ll one day see ourselves in a completely new light—literally!