Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration is home to famed ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard.

Fluorescent Coral Exhibit

First National Fluorescent Coral Exhibit is Receiving "Glowing" Reviews.
Fluorescent Coral exhibit is striking in its appearance and could possibly one day hold the clues of treating some of the world's major diseases.

The exhibit is designed to engage visitors and heighten their sense of wonder when it comes to the science of fluorescence.

Upon entering the new walk-through exhibit, visitors learn about fluorescence and its presence in their everyday lives, the dwindling populations of coral and the need for conservation, and most importantly, the ways in which fluorescence is being used in important research projects for finding cures and treatments for Alzheimer's and cancer.

Scientists are using proteins identified with coral to attach to cells within the body in order to view them in a non-invasive manner. Originally found in jellyfish in the 1960's, these proteins had been left untested for years. Many scientists have expressed that the use of these proteins is one of the most important biomedical discoveries they have seen in decades.

The man behind the Fluorescent Coral exhibit is William "Bill" Kelley, Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration's first President, who turned 90 years old in 2007.
William Kelley believes strongly in the belief that biomedical research can learn much from the field of marine science and that the oceans hold many clues to improving life on land. Kelly's own life is a testament to that.

See for yourself why visitors to Mystic Aquarium are just "a glow" over our new Fluorescent Coral exhibit.