‘Glow’ From Humans Stops At Death, Study Says. Here’s Why Understanding It Could Save Lives.

A new study of ultraweak photon emission, the process in which organisms exhibit a spontaneous emission of light without an external excitation, used a technology to demonstrate that the glow from that process ends upon death, a technology that may be used in the future to aid in the detection of human disease.

University of Calgary Professor Dan Oblak and his colleagues studied rats using digital cameras while the temperature remained steady and light was excluded.

“The fact that ultraweak photon emission is a real thing is undeniable at this point,” Oblak stated. “This really shows that this is not just an imperfection or caused by other biological processes. It’s really something that comes from all living things.”

A 2024 study from Great Britain of ultraweak photon emission spoke of the link between reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are “reactive molecules and free radicals” produced during cellular metabolism, and ultraweak photon emission. The study stated: “Sustained exposure to high levels of ROS, via elevated production or the failure of antioxidant defenses, is associated with the pathophysiology of multiple diseases, Furthermore, the failure to produce ROS effectively in response to stressors is also indicative of metabolic dysfunction. The intrinsic link between ROS production and biophoton release means that monitoring UPE in living organisms represents a real-time, non-invasive method of early-state disease diagnosis.”

“The nice thing about ultraweak photon emission is it’s a complete passive monitoring process,” Oblak asserted.

“According to literature, the UPE seems to be influenced by some diseases (including diabetes, hemiparesis, Protoporphyria, or a typical cold), and even by the cerebral intention/relaxation (brain activity/meditation),” a 2021 study claimed. “These allow to consider UPE as a natural and promising non-invasive spectroscopic tool for helping during the diagnosis of a variety of illnesses or stress-/mood-state disorders.”

Ultraweak photon emission should be differentiated from bioluminescence, which has greater light intensities and is connected to specific biochemical reactions. Bioluminescence is exhibited in fireflies and jellyfish, for example. Ultraweak photon emission, conversely, results from oxidative stress reactions.