Description
Bioluminescence in the sea is a very old phenomenon of light-production by biological organisms or animals. Associated with it are many fairy tales and early observations dating back thousands of years. This light production occurs in single cells, fireflies, bacteria, jellyfish or even sharks and the chemical mechanisms for light production have been de-mystified years ago. However, some cells seem to only emit light, when they are mechanically perturbed as a type of defence mechanism. These marine algae are especially known for annual red-tides by spreading to large populations and creating magnificent light in breaking waves at the shore. In a multi-scale approach we aim to understand the translation of mechanical forces to light, starting from single cells with a dynamical systems perspective, on a larger scale by using well-defined geometries to study fluid-structure interaction of biological cells and even creating the bioluminescent waves in our laboratory to study the impact of turbulent flow fields on the light production of algae. Based on our research we do not only hope to contribute to a better understanding of mechanical sensing, which is also used in very different essential contexts like hearing of sound waves, embryo development or our touch-sensation, but also pave the way towards industrial application such as using cells as stress-sensors in flow fields.
