No, it is not Mr. Burns, nor Homer Simpson, nor a scene from Fantasy, this image is of real organisms. Omphalotus olearius grow on stumps in forests in the United States. They are known as jack-o-lantern mushrooms because of the fluorescent light they emit from within. You have to let your eyes get used to the darkness to see its color, but it’s worth it.
The glow is the product of an enzyme called luciferase. Let us remember that the root of Lucifer is “bringer of light” (lucem ferre). It is also present in fireflies, beetles and other insects and bacteria.
In the case of the jack-o-lantern mushroom, the glow represents all the toxic compounds it’s trying to process and dispose of (well, maybe it does sound a little like a Simpsons reference).
But scientists are interested in them much more than just their brilliance: they are also full of compounds that can fight cancer. Currently, ways are being tested to understand how this organism can manufacture these compounds and, thus, then find a way to apply this knowledge in the future.