Recent research has revealed that the „light of life“ emitted by all living organisms not only exists but can also be measured. This extraordinary claim was made by a team from the University of Calgary and the National Research Council of Canada, who have provided physical and measurable evidence of a phenomenon once dismissed by mainstream science: the emission of „bio-photons“. According to their findings, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, all living beings emit a faint luminosity, possessing a „vital spark“ that departs the body at the moment of death. So, does the „light of life“ truly exist?
The Experiment
Based on the experiment’s results, the answer appears to be affirmative. For decades, the notion that living organisms might „shine with their own light“ was met with skepticism, especially from the scientific community. Consider the so-called „aura“ that each person is believed to emit, a sort of energy field surrounding the body, varying according to an individual’s physical, emotional, and spiritual state. This topic has always been controversial.
The challenge was precisely to „see“ this light. Physically, this is defined as the emission of ultra-weak photons (UPE). Commonly referred to as bio-photons, these have wavelengths ranging from 200 to 1,000 nanometers, and all living organisms, from plants to mammals, constantly emit this light radiation. Such radiation is so weak that it is nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.
Physicist Vahid Salari and his research team overcame this challenge by using a charge-coupled device with an electron multiplier and a camera equipped with a charge-coupled device. As noted in their study published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, the researchers conducted their experiment on four mice. First, they were monitored live for an hour inside a completely dark box, followed by observation post-euthanasia. To eliminate any variables, the bodies were maintained at a physiological temperature of 37 °C even after death.
The results were remarkable: while the living animals showed a constant flow of photons, the dead subjects exhibited a drastic drop in luminous emission. Therefore, the glow is a direct result of cellular metabolism, not merely heat.
Why Do We Emit Light?
According to the researchers, the primary source of this radiation lies in the chemical reactions occurring within our cells. When the body undergoes stress (heat, toxins, nutrient deficiencies), it produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecules that excite electrons within fats and proteins. When these electrons return to their ground state, they release energy in the form of photons in the visible spectrum.
Evidence has also emerged from the plant kingdom. The same research team conducted experiments on the leaves of various plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Heptapleurum arboricola, and observed that damaged or chemically stressed parts glowed significantly brighter than healthy areas. This „luminous cry“ of the damaged cells remained visible for over 16 hours of continuous observation.
Importance of the Discovery
This discovery certainly falls among a plethora of scientific curiosities, yet it could represent far more. According to the research team, it might pave the way for a genuine medical revolution: if every disease or state of stress alters the natural „luminosity“ of living organisms, it may be possible in the future to monitor our health without invasive examinations.
“If we can understand how this glow relates to specific influences like stress or diseases, we could use it as a diagnostic tool,” explained Professor Daniel Oblak, one of the study’s authors. This would mean the ability to detect the onset of inflammation or tumors simply by analyzing the light emitted from the skin or tissues, or even non-invasively monitoring the health status of entire crops.
