This article first come along in Issue 13 of our digital magazineCURIOUS .
Did you have intercourse that one of the best lieu on Earth to savor opera is inside a cave ? It sound weird , but it ’s honest : the acoustic of New Zealand ’s Waitomo Caves are off the chart . That ’s why , back in 2021 , an intimate carrying out by lionize Kiwi tenor Geoff Sewell was contain inside the tallest chamber of the cave system , which is known as “ the Cathedral ” for its famous resonation .
Waitomo is also known as the glowworm cave , and the unclouded show is arguably just as collar . Its cap glitter like a biological galaxy made up of thousands of the glowwormArachnocampaluminosa , which is singular to New Zealand .
As the larva of fungus gnats , these insects undergo a considerable gleaming - down when they develop into adults , but glow throughout their glory years . During this time , they delight moist areas of forest , stream , and a good ol’ pie-eyed cave . This is why their Māori name is “ titiwai ” , have in mind “ projected over water ” .
Like other glowworm and fireflies , A. luminosais capable of creating bioluminescent display of gullible and blue-blooded , but it was n’t until 2018 that scientist actuallypinned downthe chemistry behind the phenomenon .
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Researchers isolated and characterized the molecular components of the glowworm ’s luciferase - luciferin system . This revealed the purified luciferase enzyme is in the same protein family as Pyrophorus noctiluca luciferase , but its substrate is exclusively unlike . The discovery evidence how this glowing gold dust has acquire independently from the same phratry of enzyme to raise Light Within , even if it involve using structurally unlike luciferins .
But enough chemistry , what about those aphrodisiac caves ?
Waitomo is divided into two levels , with the upper half being ironical and full of delicate cave formation formed over 30 million years . Meanwhile , the lower one-half is a complex arrangement of water - make full current handing over fill with glint glow worms that eventually go to the tallest chamber in the cave : the Cathedral .
While the glowworm process hard , complex cave systems work harder , and pilot Waitomo can be difficult and slippy . It ’s therefore not recommended you hazard into Waitomo alone , but there are pile of tours that will guide you through this other - blase experience .
CURIOUS magazineis a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews , experts , deep dives , merriment facts , news program , book excerpts , and much more .
