Biologists Dean Sauer and Andy Bass were experimenting with sustainable biolights when they were introduced to the dinos. But because the algae needs that gentle shaking to glow, it wasn’t a good choice for a light source. Instead, it sparked the idea to create these illuminating aquariums.

The California-grown algae thrive on moderate sunlight, water, and nutrients from the enriched seawater inside, which Biopop created just to feed the dinos. Whether you opt for the elegant, hand-blown glass sphere aquarium, or the dinosaur-shaped version for kids, both showcase the beauty of science.