Read, Watch or Listen

Scientists have compiled over 400 reports of "milky seas," a rare phenomenon where ocean waters glow brightly, creating a new database. These events, likely caused by bioluminescent bacteria, are vast (up to 39,000 square miles) and sometimes visible from space. The database, detailed in the journal Earth and Space Science, aims to predict milky sea occurrences, allowing for research into their causes, impact on ocean life, and possible links to climate change. Understanding these events could reveal insights into ocean ecosystems and the food chain.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.