David Gruber

Marine biologist, explorer and professor David Gruber searches for all things odd and interesting in the ocean. His discoveries are providing a wealth of new insight into a secret "language" of shining colors and patterns that help marine creatures communicate, interact and dodge enemies. He has recently provided the first descriptions of "glowing" biofluoresent turtles and subsequently built an underwater "Shark-Eye" camera that provides a first peek at a Swell Shark's visual perspective. His laboratories at the City University of New York and the American Museum of Natural History continually illuminate and discover scores of novel fluorescent compounds from marine animals. Several of these compounds have been deployed as tools to study cancer drugs and to understand the brain. On land, his team designs submersibles and cameras - cutting edge tools that allow him to study the delicate environments to which he ventures. David is a 2014 National Geographic Emerging Explorer.