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Glowing gophers: Scientists puzzled at what causes the rodents to light up under blacklight

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A southeastern pocket gopher. (Courtesy of JT Pynne)
A southeastern pocket gopher. (Courtesy of JT Pynne)

In the past few years, researchers have found a handful of mammals that glow under UV lights: flying squirrels, wombats and platypuses. Now, we can add pocket gophers to the list.

As Molly Samuel of WABE reports, scientists have some theories but they don't really know why the animals glow.

A sedated Southeastern pocket gopher fluorescing under black light. (Credit courtesy of JT Pynne/University of Georgia)
A sedated Southeastern pocket gopher fluoresced under black light. (Credit courtesy of JT Pynne/University of Georgia)

This segment aired on November 15, 2021.

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