Museums

My seven-year-old son is a big fan of exotic sea creatures, particularly the anglerfish which uses a glowing ball of bacteria to lure its prey to their doom. This creepy looking aquatic killer is one of the many amazing lifeforms spotlighted in Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence at one of my kid's favorite places, the American Museum of Natural History, so I knew it would be a hit.

The exhibit explores how the anglerfish and other creatures make their own light, also known as bioluminescence, but it also touches on fluorescent beings which emit absorbed light and others that let little glowing critters hitch a ride to light the way. Creatures of Light features firefly-lit meadows, otherworldly caves that twinkle like Christmas trees and shallow bays flashing with light. Although a handful of land creatures are included, the exhibit mainly focuses on fish and other ocean dwellers since the majority of them create their own light. They are all quite a sight!