Disco (clam) isn't dead: how silica nanospheres create flashing glam clams

When people think of clams, their minds often go to chowder (possibly accompanied by Pavlovian salivation). "Disco clams", however, aren't your average bivalves. These Indo-Pacific creatures are contrasted from their dull-gray, mud-living, soup-making brethren by their bright red tentacles, coral reef homes, and a vivid electric-looking flash that goes back and forth across their mantle. Originally thought to be bioluminescence, the broadband flashing is actually the result of reflection from silica nanospheres that are ideally tuned for the light wavelengths that dominate their environment. The purpose of this flashy display is still unknown. We'll explore whether the flashing attracts a mate, scares away predators, or lures in prey. Or, perhaps, if the clam is just keepin' the beat.

Speaker: Lindsey Dougherty, UC Berkeley