Quick & curious · Nature

A shrimp makes light with its claw.

Its claw creates a bubble that collapses with a bang and a brief flash of light.

Close-up of the large snapping claw of a pistol shrimp — Photo: FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute · CC BY 2.0 · Original

The story behind it

This shrimp makes a flash of light with its claw.

The pistol shrimp snaps its claw so fast that a bubble forms and collapses with a loud bang – along with a brief flash of light. If that were pure glow, it would have to be over 4,700 degrees hot.