The Strange Blue Glow That Saved Lives

During the American Civil War, some soldiers' wounds glowed blue, a phenomenon called 'Angel's Glow.' This glow was linked to higher survival rates. In 2001, high school students Bill Martin and John Curtis discovered that bioluminescent bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens, were responsible. These bacteria, carried by nematodes, released toxins that killed harmful bacteria in wounds. The cold conditions at the Battle of Shiloh allowed the bacteria to thrive, explaining the glow and improved survival. Their research solved a 139-year-old mystery and won them a top science fair prize.

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