A Glow You Have to See to Believe
Somewhere off the coast of Long Beach, California, the Pacific Ocean lit up — not from a lighthouse or a passing ship, but from something alive. Bioluminescent fireworms, tiny marine creatures capable of producing their own vivid green light, put on a natural light show that stopped photographer Patrick Coyne in his tracks.
Coyne brought the footage to CBC's The National as part of the network's beloved #TheMoment segment — a series dedicated to capturing those rare, extraordinary instants that remind us just how strange and beautiful the natural world can be.
What Are Fireworms, Exactly?
Fireworms are a type of marine polychaete — a segmented worm that lives in warm ocean waters. What makes them truly extraordinary is their ability to produce bioluminescence: a chemical reaction within their bodies that generates light without heat. Think of it like nature's version of a glow stick, except infinitely more elegant.
When fireworms swarm near the ocean surface — often during mating events triggered by lunar cycles — they release glowing secretions into the water. The result is an otherworldly green shimmer that can stretch across the waves, turning the dark Pacific into something that looks straight out of a science fiction film.
Coyne's footage captures exactly that: trails of bright green light pulsing through the water, alive and electric. It's the kind of image that makes you forget you're looking at biology and start wondering if the ocean itself is dreaming.
Why Moments Like This Matter
Bioluminescence is more common in the ocean than most people realize — from glowing plankton to deep-sea jellyfish — but that doesn't make it any less magical when you witness it up close. These phenomena are a reminder that Earth still holds genuine wonder, hiding just beneath the surface (sometimes literally).
For photographers like Coyne, the challenge is being in the right place at the right time, with the patience to wait for nature to perform. Bioluminescent events are notoriously difficult to predict and even harder to photograph — the light is faint, the conditions are dark, and timing is everything.
Canada's Eye on the Natural World
CBC's #TheMoment has built a loyal following by spotlighting exactly these kinds of stories — moments of beauty, strangeness, and awe that cut through the daily noise. Whether it's a rare weather event in the Prairies, a northern lights display over the Yukon, or fireworms dancing off the California coast as captured by a talented photographer, the segment reminds Canadians that paying attention to the world around us is always worth it.
Fireworms won't be dimming their lights anytime soon. Next time you're near an ocean after dark, it might be worth gazing into the water — you never know what's glowing down there.
Source: CBC Top Stories / The National — #TheMoment, featuring photographer Patrick Coyne.
