thawing global permafrost and its impact on the local ecosystem. The phenomenon of small, shimmering blue lights in the Arctic snow intrigued researchers operating close to the White Sea.
The initial recorded observation of these minute snow lights was made by Russian microbiologist Vera Emelianenko. The lights were spotted while Emelianenko was conducting research in the area in December 2021. A sample was collected to determine the source of this illumination.
While the appearance of the lights coincided with the festive season and resembled glittering decorative lights, they had a natural origin. The blue lights were identified as Metridia longa, a small species of copepod. Their luminescence is a result of their own bioluminescence. This discovery was unexpected since the Metridia longa were not supposed to be present on the shore.
