UV emitting alien species

I am currently writing a species for my story that can self generate UV radiation by consuming cinnabar/mercury ore, being immune to mercury poisoning, converting the mercury into a vapor that interacts with a 300 watt electrical current in their body. This produces UV radiation similarly to how a mercury vapor lamp does. Phosphors in their skin interact with this radiation, causing them to emit visible UV light. This light is absorbed by them in a pseudo-photosynthetic process to produce energy reserves. Their body also naturally produces vitamin D as a result.

On their planet, their sun has died out, no longer providing them with sunlight, forcing them to burrow deep underground towards the heated core of the planet while the surface freezes over. The conflict of the story being that the core is cooling and they need to find a new planet to settle on.

They have adapted to using cinnabar as a way to produce and absorb UV radiation in the absence of sunlight. They get their water source from underground lakes and have managed to set up crops by using their UV light to help them grow, which these alien plants thrive in UV light. They harness this radiation, using it to project a UV laser from their eye for self defense against predators and for welding, etc. They also possess UV vision for seeing well in certain conditions.

Does this seem plausible enough and how can I expand on this?

posted almost 5 years ago

ViolaVerse‭

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