Bugs makin' art

Biolumiescence is the emission of energy that is caused by living, ecological things. The most common living creature that is able to emit energy is insects and they do this in the form of light. Insects such as fireflies emit light in the form of bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is the reaction that occurs when the pigment luciferin, oxygen, and the enzyme luciferase come together. Usually the reaction occurs once the luciferin and the oxygen react with each other to produce light either inside of the cell or outside of the cell of the insect. The enzyme, luciferase, like most enzymes, is helpful in speeding up the chemical reaction that occurs between the pigment and the oxygen. This is why the pigment and the oxygen are necessary for insects to glow, without each of these the insect would not have any glowing capability.

Bioluminescent Insects Glowing in the Darkness, Karl Fabricius

Bioluminescence and Combustion

Bioluminescence is a natural Chemiluminescence that some animals are able to produce. Bioluminescence is the reaction between the pigment luciferin, the enzyme luciferase, and oxygen. The luciferin reacts with the oxygen to create light, and the luciferase speeds up the reaction (it is a catalyst). This reaction can occur either inside or outside the cell. It is a “cold light” because it doesn’t release a large amount of heat (only around twenty percent) in the chemical reaction that causes it.

Because the insect is using bioluminescence to produce light on its body there should be no way it can combust. Because such a small amount of kinetic energy is supposed to be released in bioluminescence it is strange that the bug is hot to the touch. It is not releasing the correct amount of heat and is wasting its energy on it. However, even though it is releasing too much kinetic energy it is still not hot enough to combust. When something undergoes combustion it reaches a high enough temperature that it is burned. Because bioluminescence releases such a small amount of kinetic energy the insect won’t reach a high enough temperature to actually start burning. In order for something to burn it also needs a significant amount of oxygen to fuel it. Our atmosphere only has twenty one percent oxygen so it is not enough to react and fuel the reaction that is needed for combustion.

"Bioluminescence." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. .

"Combustion." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. .

"HowStuffWorks "How Bioluminescence Works"" HowStuffWorks "Science" Web. 31 Oct. 2011. .

Bioluminescence in Bugs

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as a result of a chemical reaction in which chemical energy is converted into light energy. Bioluminescence is a form of cold light emission, and less than 20% of the light is generated by thermal radiation. As the bug is emitting cold light, it is focusing a great deal of energy into not only producing light, but emitting warmth. As so much energy is going into emitting light, it would be impossible for the beetle to produce enough energy to create enough heat to reach a temperature in which combustion is possible. Combustion is an exothermic chemical reaction, in which heat is released and something is burned in the process. The temperature the bug would need to reach in order to combust is much too high for it to reach by merely emitting bioluminescence, which is not only cold light, but is focused on producing both light and warmth, and has no energy or heat left over in order for it to reach the temperature necessary for combustion.

"Chemistry - Bioluminescence." Chemistry Daily - Articles on Every Chemistry Topic. Web. 31 Oct. 2011.

BioLuminescence

Bioluminescence is light that is created by living creatures such as bugs, fish, bacteria, etc... Bioluminescence is known as cold light because it does not require or generate any energy as result. A pigment known as luciferin will react with oxygen to produce light inside or outside a cell with the enzyme luciferase speeding up these reactions. Luciferin and luciferase are just the type of enzyme and pigments used in animals which use bioluminescence. This pigment and enzyme are needed in order for the reaction to occur for light to be produced that is why not all animals and organisms cannot produce light. Bioluminescence is used for camouflage, attraction, and communication. If there was a bug which emmited light and heat as a result of its bioluminescence, it would mean that the bug is not an efficient bug. With Bioluminescence there is little heat produced, which is what makes it so efficient as opposed to incandescent lights. If a bug was producing enough heat to burn skin (<140 degrees) means that the bug is producing more heat than light making it an ineffective form of bioluninecence. Combustion though is a series of exothermic reactions with the production of heat and if the bug continued to produce more heat than the bug is able to handle it will combust. Given that skin burns at around 140 degrees Fahrenheit and at most 20 % of the energy is produced as a heat byproduct. If the bug was producing that much heat it would not combust unless the temperature was above boiling point. Water has a boiling point of 212 degrees farenheit and given that bugs are made of molecules other than water the boiling point would be actually more than 212 and so the bug would not combust until the amount of heat released would be more than the boiling point and much higher then it would be able to reach.

Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is release of and discharge of light by a living organism. Bioluminescence is also a kind of Chemiluminescence. The most common example of bioluminescence in our everyday lives are when fireflies use it to light up at night. The most prevalent type of organisms to use bioluminescence are marine animals. Almost all marine animals utilize bioluminescence in their lifetime. The light through bioluminescence is released through a chemical pigment known as luciferin. They also produce something known as luciferase which is an enzyme. The emission of light in the organism is produced through a chemical reaction where luciferin is exposed to oxygen and luciferase is the key catalyst in the chemical reaction. Another chemical that is in involved in the reaction is something known as ATP which transports the chemical energy to different cells. The ATP brings the energy to the chemical reaction so it has the energy to make the reaction happen. Since this is a chemiluminescent reaction, the reaction is not powered through heat energy. Since the bug is hot to the touch it shows that it is emitting a lot of heat and not very efficient at this chemical reaction. The process of bioluminescence can happen outside of the cell or inside of the cell.

Combustion is a string of exothermic reaction between oxygen and a substance that is fueling. Even though this bug feels hot when a person touches it, combustion is still highly unlikely. This is because bioluminescence can cause a bug to reach temperatures close to 100 C. Combustion though, requires a temperature between 175 C - 475 C. The probability that combustion is occurring is highly improbable and it is most likely that the bug just got a bit hot from bioluminescence.

Bibliography:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence.htm

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Combustion

Biouminescence

Bioluminescence is the emission of light by living creatures. This occurs when there is a chemical reaction inside of the bug and the energy is released as light. The type of light that occurs In Bioluminescence is a special type of light called cold light in which less than 20% of the light actually generates heat. This is the opposite of tipical light bulbs which use incandescent light which is a process where the bulb gets very hot and then emits light. The best pay off of luminescence is that it does not generate a lot fo heat nor does it require heat thus the name cold light. The bug does retain the 20% of heat that is created which is why the bug may seem hot but it would be improable that a bug every create enough energy to combust through cold light.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence2.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminescence

Bioluminescent Bugs

Glowing insects and other organisms use luminescence to produce light. The glow is created from chemical compounds that neither require nor generate a large amount of heat. This is why the light that is produced is often referred to as, cold light. Bioluminescence itself it a form of cold light emission, meaning that less that 20% of the light, created by the bug, produces thermal radiation. It is for this reason that bugs do not combust. In order for a bug to combust it would have to reach an incredibly high temperature which is very unlikely because at the same time it is heating up, the bug is expending a large amount of energy to produce cold light. This effectively keeps the bug from reaching temperatures anywhere near combustion. The fact that this particular bug is hot enough to possibly burn skin, gives the indication that it is a pretty inefficient bug. Even though it is inefficient and reaches higher temperatures than most though, the bug would still be unlikely to reach a hot enough temperature to combust because it is constantly producing cold light to balance itself out to a certain extent.

"How Bioluminescence Work" How Stuff Works. Web. 30 Oct. 2011
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence.htm

"Bioluminescence" Wikipedia.org. Web. 30 Oct. 2011
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence

This Bug!

Bioluminescence is defined as the production of light form a living thing, the energy that they produce is turned in to light. It is a form of Chemiluminescence which is where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light. Bioluminescence usually applies to marine vertebrates and invertebrates. When these creatures produce the light, even though in this case it is to attract or scare away a mate, they also do it for protection and caution from their surroundings, like a defense mechanism. In this case, because we are looking at insects, it’s an invertebrate. Bioluminescence is also known as the cold light, usually not producing much heat but only light. Some insects will produce Luciferin( which reacts with oxygen to create light) as well as luciferase( which is an enzyme that speeds up the light producing reaction), but neither of these help to produce heat. In general bioluminescence produces less than 20% of light that gives off thermal radiation (heat). There are many lights such as incandescent light and infrared light that produce heat but as we can see Bioluminescence is not one of them. This does not apply to this case making this bug a different case. Combustion is the chemical reaction of fuel and an oxidant such as iron oxide. Oxidants are substances that remove electrons from another substance. This reaction is an exothermic one, which means that it is releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Usually when there is a combustion the result ranges from a glow to a flame. Even though this bug is giving off heat, and enough of it to burn our skin when we touch it, it is not giving off enough heat to make the bug burst in to flames. The amount of heat that would approximately be needed for a bug to burst in to flames is approximately between 150 - 215 degrees Celsius. That is a very high temperature and for the bug to be alive, it is not possible that it has reached this temperature or its species would have gone extinct. It is also not possible for the bug to have reached that temperature because bioluminescent usually does not produce heat (cold light) so even though the temperature is higher than usual, it is not high enough for it to combust. I believe that in this case the heat is another part of the bug’s defense mechanism. The bug uses the heat to scare off its predators and keep itself safe. The bug is probably a smaller insect and that’s why it needs the amount of protection that it does.

The picture of the bug above looks a bit like the bug described in the question because of the red glowing stripes on either of its sides. This bug is also bio luminescent but in this picture I think the prominent glow is coming from the tail area. The bug in this picture is a firefly.

Challenging Intersections

As we emphasize the transference of energy and how the transference may contribute to physical changes in matter, it is easy to forget that we need to be able to apply our understanding to the broader world, as well as to specific, concrete examples. Thus the challenge : select an specific instance in the ecological environment where heat transference occurs, and then--using at least two scholarly articles--discuss in a post how this heat transference affects the ecological economy (i.e. 'web of life'). Second to that, review a fellow student's posting, including articles, and respond with a constructive critique by commenting on their post. As always, cite resources in MLA format.

Bug Dilemma

Bioluminescence is the emission of light given off by a living organism. Light is emitted because a chemical reaction occurred and the energy is released in the form of light (the living thing emits light because electrons move through oxygen which absorbs the energy and gives off light a produces a bit of energy). Bioluminescence is known as cold light emission since less than 20% radiates thermal light (when the temperature is greater than zero when particles are constantly moving). So this light is not warm to the touch and has a neon color.

However, because iron is a product of a chemical reaction it will then react with oxygen and, because the animal is outside in normal conditions where it may rain, water will touch the iron product. The iron will corrode (rust) and transform into that red, ruddy color. When the iron is made the molecules have a lot of energy and move fast and want to spread out somewhere else. So it spreads into the cooler oxygen molecules and the bug gets cooler. The reason why it’s warm when one touches it is because one’s finger is cooler than those two strips of the bug, since they just underwent a reaction with oxygen (high energy bonds), so the heat is transferred into one’s finger. The reaction between iron and oxygen is known as exothermic (one that emits heat and light). The system is the bug and the surroundings are your finger and the air.

Even though iron often combusts into rust that will not happen with this bug because its light is bioluminescent and therefore, the object is not warm. The fact that it’s bioluminescent cancels out the warmth the reaction between iron and oxygen produces. Combustion in general, happens due to a high temperature. Also for rust to combust it must undergo a reaction called thermite reaction. Thermite reaction needs metal powder and a metal oxide. Although there is a metal oxide (rust) it’s impossible for the bug to combust because there is no metal powder involved.

http://www.thecatalyst.org/other/thermite/

http://entropysite.oxy.edu/students_approach.html

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/all-about-animals/bioluminescence.htm

http://www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=50#

Bioluminescence in Insects

Regardless of the intent of the organism, bioluminescence produces light in the same manner. When an electron circling the nucleus of an atom receives enough energy, it will shift onto a higher electron shell. As the electron moves back to a lower electron shell, energy is released. This energy comes out in the form of a photon, or a light particle, in order to mate, capture prey, and for other reasons.

In order for light to be released through bioluminescence, energy must first be produced in an organism. This happens through a chemical reaction involving luciferin (a molecule that an enzyme reacts with) and an enzyme known as luciferase. The purpose of luciferase is to allow luciferin to release energy during oxidation. Varying chemicals among different organisms result in different colored light being emitted. Differently from that of incandescence, where energy is released in the form of heat, in bioluminescence, energy is released through light, and a negligible amount is lost through heat. Compared to ocean-dwelling organisms, land-based organisms rarely exhibit bioluminescence. In the case of fireflies, the process of bioluminescence differs from other organisms, in that they incorporate the molecule, adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), into the chemical reaction.

In the insect provided in the example, it is evident that the energy generated is inefficiently being released through heat. Rather than simply emitting light, as almost all bioluminescent organisms do, this one is wasting much of the energy through heat. In spite of the high temperature of the surface of the organism, a combination of factors prevents it from combusting. The first of which includes the presence of oxygen. Although oxygen plays a role in the chemical reactions during bioluminescence, there may not be enough to cause the insect to burn. Another ingredient is fuel, which comes in the form of a variety of chemicals and substances. In addition, all combustion reactions result in heat (known as exothermic reactions). Although combustion results in heat being released, as well as light, there is a distinction between this reaction and bioluminescence. In the case of this insect, it is likely that it simply hasn’t reached a temperature high enough to begin burning, yet is still hot to the touch.

"What Is Bioluminescence?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

"Bioluminescence Questions and Answers." Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 3 Aug. 2000. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

"Fire Triangle KidsZone :: Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service." Welcome ...making Hampshire Safer :: Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXl8F-eIoiM

Combusting Bug

In this situation, the bug would have to be using bioluminescence, a "cold light", instead of actually emitting energy as heat. Bioluminescence is a cold light because instead of, in the case of electrical light, only using 3% of the energy to produce light, it uses almost 100%, wasting nothing. For this reason, it doesn't emit wasted energy as heat. There are three parts to conducting bioluminescence, oxygen, luciferin, and luciferase. Because this particular bug is not cool to the touch, we can assume it doesn't use all of the energy it produces in order to create light. If it is hot enough to burn your skin, the bug is probably wasting a good amount of energy and creating more heat then light. This means that it is a combusting or exothermic reaction. If the bug continued to emit more heat then its body could handle, it would eventually combust. In this specific situation, we can tell that the bug is not producing enough heat to be able to produce a combustion.

De Leon, N. "Combustion Reactions." Indiana University Northwest Chemistry. Indiana University Northwest. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

"LIGHTS ALIVE: About Bioluminescence." Visit TheNAT, the San Diego Natural History Museum--Your Nature Connection in Balboa Park! San Diego Natural History Museum. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

Litteral, Linda. "Bioluminescence in Marine Animals." Dive Training Magazine. DTMag. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

Combust-ed!

When it comes to light, there are two common ways in which light is created--incandescence and luminescence. Incandescence is light from heat energy; when you heat something, it will begin to glow. When an electric stove or metal begins to glow, incandescence is occurring. Luminescence, however, is light than can be emitted at normal and lower temperatures. Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission. A chemical reaction occurs transpires inside an organism, which involves luciferin (a naturally occurring enzyme in bioluminescent animals) and oxygen. When this chemical reaction occurs, the bioluminescent organism successfully emits light.

Because bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence, and not incandescence, the light not produced via heat energy. The fact that the "bug" was hot to the touch proves that this organism is rather inefficient in its producing of bioluminescent light. As previously stated, bioluminescent light is NOT the product of heat energy, rather, the result of a chemical reaction between luciferin and oxygen.

Combustion, or burning, is a series of exothermic chemical reactions between a fueling substance and oxygen; these chemical reactions result in the release of heat and production of light in the form of either glowing or flame.

Combustion, however, is completely different from bioluminescence in that light is produced from heat--similar to incandescence. Although this "bug" feels hot to the touch, combustion is not necessarily occurring; combustion occurs within the temperature range of 175ºC all the way to 450ºC. It is very possible that the bug reached temperatures around 100ºC, which would be hot enough to burn a person's finger. It is highly unlikely that the bioluminescent organism had reached the temperatures necessary for combustion to occur, however, it is possible that it was hot enough to burn the skin on a person's finger.

• "HowStuffWorks "How Bioluminescence Works"" HowStuffWorks "Science" Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

• "Combustion." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 30 Oct. 2011. .

Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence; energy is released in the form of light from a chemical reaction. Bioluminescence is mostly seen within marine animals, however most people have seen it in fireflies. More than 90 percent of marine animals use some type of bioluminescence. The light is emitted because the bioluminescent animals produce a pigment called luciferin and an enzyme called luciferase. The light is created when luciferin reacts with oxygen. The luciferase plays the role of the catalyst speeding up the reaction. ATP is also involved this process, it acts as an energy source for the enzyme so it can start the reaction. This process can happen within or outside of the cell. Less than 20 percent of the light emitted from bioluminescence generates thermal radiation which basically means it emits less than 20% heat. Since there is so little thermal radiation, the bug doesn’t feel hot to touch. It barely produces any heat so the bug can’t combust. Combustion is a sequence of quick exothermic chemical reactions that produce heat and often light due to oxidation. It is highly unlikely that a bug could reach the temperature necessary in order for combustion to happen. In order for the bug to combust, the animal’s bioluminescence would have to make the bug about 200^o Celsius. It would be extremely unlikely that the bug could reach that temperature without any outside sources. Sometimes when a bioluminescent bug feels hot to touch, it isn’t because of the bioluminescence. Bioluminescence barely produces any heat so it wouldn’t make sense for it to burn you. The only reason it feels hot to touch is because another chemical reaction occurs causing heat to be emitted; it’s part of the animal’s defense mechanism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combustion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence