Moirems

Moirems are a group of bioluminescent, reef‑forming organisms that inhabit the mesopelagic zones of several ocean basins. They belong to the phylum Celsiotrocha and are characterized by iridescent, multilayered epidermal structures which produce moiré patterns when viewed from different angles. The most common species, Moirem abyssalis, forms extensive sheet‑like colonies that can span several square meters. Individual specimens are translucent, reaching up to 10 centimeters in length, and exhibit a slow, undulating motion that synchronizes across a colony to create complex light displays.

The outermost epidermal layer contains a lattice of protein filaments organized hexagonally, which refract and interfere with light to produce distinct interference patterns that have been described by some researchers as “moiré waves.” These optical effects are believed to play roles in predator deterrence and intraspecific communication, although the precise mechanisms remain under investigation. Genetic analyses reveal that moiré patterns are encoded in a small array of genes responsive to circadian rhythm and environmental light levels.

Moirems were first described in detailed scientific literature in 1975 after a research expedition collected sediment cores from the Mariana Trench. Subsequent surveys have documented their presence in the Sargasso Sea, the South Pacific Gyre, and off the coast of West Africa. The organisms’ bioluminescence is powered by a dinoflagellate symbiont located within their gut, and this symbiotic relationship is analogous to that of boreal lichens in terrestrial ecosystems.

In recent years, moiré patterns produced by Moirem colonies have attracted interest from the fields of optical engineering and bio‑inspired design. Small‑scale replicas of their epidermal lattice have been used to develop low‑cost, high‑contrast photonic displays. The ecological significance of Moirem colonies is still being explored, but they are thought to contribute to carbon sequestration by facilitating the vertical transport of organic material to deeper waters.