Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Im doing a project with dinoflagelletes this year and I want to know how to measure bioluminescence. Im trying to see the effects of ocean acidification on bioluminescence and I need to find a specific way to measure it. Plz help me. Thank you very much.

There are scientific instruments for measuring luminescence like this but they are way too expensive. There are also plans online for building a device to measure light levels, but you need to be pretty handy with tools and electronics.

My best suggestion would be to do a search for a smart phone app that will allow you to measure low light levels like the dino's luminescence. The phone's camera should allow you to do this, but I don't know which app would be best. You want something that gives you a numerical read-out of light intensity so you can compare different treatments.

When you find some possibilities, post again and I'll help you figure which might be best.

Sybee