Some mushrooms glow, and here's why

New York: There are mushrooms that actually glow. Now researchers have found out why. The light emitted from those fungi attracts the attention of insects, including beetles, flies, wasps and ants, says the study published in the Cell Press journal Current Biology. Those insect visitors are apparently good for the fungi because they spread the fungal spores around. The new study also shows that the mushrooms' bio-luminescence is under the control of the circadian clock. In fact, it was that discovery that led the researchers to suspect that the mushrooms' light must serve some useful purpose.