# A beach in Melbourne, Australia has been bathed in an “ethereal glow” at nighttime this week thanks to bioluminescent algae adding a shimmering, electric blue hue to the water and sand. Marine ecologist Richard Pensak told CNN the algae bloom, sometimes referred to as “sea sparkle”, appears as a bright pinkish-orange cloud during the day, but at night it transforms into a stunning light display. The phenomenon is caused by a chemical reaction the algae produce when they are agitated or disturbed. Research has linked more frequent and intense blooms to warming oceans.
Algae bringing an electric blue ethereal glow to Australian beach