Scientists have captured the moment a human sperm meets an egg on film, and found the union is a “fireworks” show that produces a blast of white light.
The phenomenon was discovered about five years ago in a mouse, but it’s never before been seen in humans.
Specifically, scientists noted that at the exact moment of conception, an explosion of fiery sparks is emitted. And what’s more, researchers found different sizes of light and said the size can actually reveal the quality of the egg that’s being fertilized, the Telegraph reported.
In short, researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago said the brighter the fireworks, the healthier the egg. And the practical benefit of that finding is that it enables medical officials to identify the best fertilized eggs for in-vitro fertilization procedures.
Scientists attribute the flash to a trigger release of calcium that occurs when the sperm enters the egg, and that deposit causes an expulsion of zinc. As the zinc pours forth, it carries with it small molecules that give off a fluorescent light.
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