Nature Connections: Nature's Glow

You may have just put away your Christmas lights but we still can light up your night! There are many animals, plants, minerals, and algae that glow in the dark. Some, like scorpions and calcite, only appear different under ultraviolet light. Others, like dinoflagellates and fireflies, are visible to the naked human eye. This may sound like an otherworldly phenomenon, but most can be found right here in Maryland! Join the Natural History Society for an afternoon of luminescence and fluorescence in nature. Our theme comes highly reviewed: Guests at the Ladew Garden Glowfest couldn’t get enough.

Presentation, 1:30PM: Fluorescent Minerals by Chris Luzier

Want to know about (non hazardous) glowing rocks? Learn about fluorescent minerals from our guest speaker, Chris Luzier! Over 500 minerals have been discovered to exhibit some kind of fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. These include obscure minerals like hardystonite (which glows a deep midnight blue) and common ones like fluorite (glows in various possible colors) which is in your toothpaste!