by Conscious Reminder
For the first time in over 6 decades, some residents of Acapulco in Mexico were lucky enough to witness an amazing bioluminescent blue light show in the waters of Puerto Marques beach.
The phenomenal sight happened thanks to the Bioluminescent planktons that caused chemical reactions in the water, resulting in this rare phenomenon.
Even though the beaches are currently empty because of the coronavirus that caused global lockdown, some beachgoers managed to capture unbelievable footage of the amazing sight that immediately went viral on social media.
Noctiluca scintillans, commonly known as the sea sparkle is a free-living, marine-dwelling species of dinoflagellate that exhibits bioluminescence when disturbed.
(Photo: Twitter) Bioluminescent plankton was observed in the waves on a Porto Marqués beach for the first time in over 60 years.
The Luminescent Glow Of Puerto Marqués
Because of the dramatic decline in pollution on a global level, people on social media were quick to draw a parallel between the phenomenon and the ecological changes. However, marine biologist Enrique Ayala Duval immediately claimed those ideas to be unfounded.
“Bioluminescence is the light produced as a result of a biochemical reaction in which most of the time luciferin [protein], molecular oxygen and ATP [adenosine triphosphate] take part, which react by means of the enzyme luciferase in the following way: oxygen oxidizes luciferin, luciferase accelerates the reaction, and ATP provides the energy for the reaction, producing noticeable water and light at night.” wrote Duval on Sabersinfin.com
The phenomenon occurs when lots and lots of these little creatures congregate in one place and the blooming happens because of the levels of nutrients in the waters and other environmental factors.
Breaching Quarantine
Besides the country’s strict lockdown and the ban on visiting the beaches and beating in the Mexican seas, some locals couldn’t just miss the opportunity to enjoy the once in a lifetime event. Below you can see a short video a beachgoer posted after jumping in the neon blue waters.
https://twitter.com/corelionnews/status/1252778068692828160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1252778068692828160&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencetimes.com%2Farticles%2F25446%2F20200423%2Ffirst-time-60-years-puerto-marques-beach-acapulco-light-up.htm
His stunt came across mixed feelings on social media. Many users weren’t pleased with his act, disappointingly saying that people eventually destroy everything.
Even though it took over 60 years for the bioluminescent blue plankton to return to the waters in Puerto Marqués, it’s not such a rare sight in other parts of Mexico. Still, it doesn’t make it any less spectacular.
So, would you take a dip in these blue fluorescent waters?
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