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What Makes The “Northern Lights of the Sea” So Magical? - From Aristotle to Darwin, Humankind’s effort to understand bioluminescence spans thousands of years. Even though it’s one of the oldest fields of scientific study, answers remain elusive. In this episode of Untold Earth we get in the water with the bioluminescent algae of the Salish Sea, experiencing and asking: what is it about this inscrutable mystery that inspires such obsession?

All Episodes

What Makes The “Northern Lights of the Sea” So Magical?

An ancient and modern mystery, what about bioluminescence inspires such obsession?

What Are These Strange Towers Growing Out of This Lake?

Over half a million years old, the story of Mono Lake is one of survival.

You Aren’t Paying Enough Attention to Moss

At 450 million years old, moss may hold the key to surviving our rapidly warming planet.

Why Do Hundreds of Icebergs Keep Visiting This Town?

What are icebergs doing so close to land and why must we keep an eye on them?

Redwoods Shouldn't Be So Tall. Here's Why They Are

What makes the Coast Redwood, a tree as old as the dinosaurs, epically singular in nature?

About Untold Earth

From PBS NATURE and Atlas Obscura, Untold Earth is a documentary series dedicated to unpacking the stories behind North America’s strangest, most unique natural wonders.