Scientists have long been baffled by a mysterious glow that appears near the surface of oceans.

The mysterious glow have haunted marines and sailors and have been a phenomenon to scientists. Only recently in the winter 2009 issue of the journal Invertebrate Biology, scientists moves closer to identifying the origin of the light.

The eerie lights are produced by Marine Fire Worms. Marine Fire Worms uses bioluminescence to attract suitors in an undersea mating ritual.

The bright glow produced by female worms are to attract male worms which also release gametes into the bright green cloud. Besides being used as a mating ritual, scientists found juvenile worms using the light as well leading them to believe that the light is also used as a defense mechanism to ward off predators.