By far the largest habitat on earth, the deep sea is dark even during the middle of day. Because of this, over 90% of the animals within it have evolved the means to make their own light in colors ranging from violet to red. In this talk, guest speaker Sönke Johnsen, Owens Distinguished Professor at Duke University, will describe how these animals use light to communicate, startle, lure, trick, defend, and even hide, as demonstrated by Johnsen's at-sea research experiences and photography.

Johnsen's work has been featured in various magazines and newspapers, but also in Finding Nemo, The Magic Treehouse book series, NPR’s Radiolab, the poetry of John Updike, the humor of Dave Barry, and most recently in Ed Yong’s An Immense World. He has written or co-written five books, The Optics of Life, Visual Ecology, Into the Great Wide Ocean, Color in Nature, and The Radiant Sea.

This event is open to all.

Registration is not required but will help with event planning.

Following the talk, join a reception at the Earth Sciences & Map Library from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Image: Flamethrower shrimp by Sönke Johnsen