Skip to main content

This experimental jewelry is filled with bioluminescent algae, so it glows in the dark

Thanks to a particular species of algae that is naturally bioluminescent, you can now wear living jewelry that glows in the dark. The piece above is a part of a collection called The Mermaid’s Lunchbox, and is a collaboration between culinary duo Sam Bompas and Harry Parr, scientist Simon Park, and jewelry makers Goldie Rox. The unique necklace features a small glass vial hanging from a gold chain. Within the vial is a tiny algae habitat, where a bloom of dinoflagellates swim in water.

Dinoflagellates are a naturally bioluminescent type of algae that glow when agitated, so anytime you shake the vial, the necklace will glow bright with blue light. This particular type of algae occurs naturally too, which explains the freaky blue glow beach-goers sometimes see in the ocean at night. Scientists believe that the algae’s bioluminescence is a defense mechanism to protect them from predators in the wild. Shaking the pendant will activate the algae’s glow, but Bombas and Parr say that normal movement while wearing the necklace will activate sparks of bright algae glow.

Recommended Videos

Screen Shot 2016-04-07 at 9.15.50 AMRelated: Go green! These edible algae lamps could light your home

Simon Park is a professor of molecular biology at Surrey University, where the team worked to create an algae culture that could be inserted into the water-filled pendant. As long as the necklace is exposed to light during the day, the algae uses natural photosynthesis to recharge so it can glow all through the night. If that wasn’t enough of a reminder that the necklace is a living organism, each Mermaid Lunchbox piece will come with instructions on how to feed and take care of the dinoflagellates.

The scientific side of the Mermaid’s Lunchbox team is busy searching for a more powerful strain of dinoflagellates, which they admit they may have to genetically modify themselves. In the meantime, they predict that each bloom of algae will live for up to three weeks if cared for properly, and the company will send refills as each bloom dies out. It’s not clear if the refills will cost extra, but at $2,800 per necklace, we certainly hope they’ll send refills for free.

Chloe Olewitz
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chloe is a writer from New York with a passion for technology, travel, and playing devil's advocate. You can find out more…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more