Bioluminescence is a process wherein light is produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism hence the name. Bioluminescence is a "cold light." and it means less than 20% of the light generates thermal radiation or heat. Some species use this to confuse or startle their predators just like how a vampire squid does it. They lack ink sacs unlike other squid species and as a defense mechanism or escaping tactic, they eject sticky bioluminescent mucus, which can startle, confuse, and delay predators, allowing the squid to escape. Bioluminescent light’s appearance varies greatly and that also depends on the habitat and organism in which it is found. Most marine bioluminescence is expressed in the blue-green part of the visible light spectrum. In the deeper part of the ocean, these colors become infinitely more visible. Land organisms, on the other hand, glow in the yellow spectrum and this includes yellow like fireflies. Bioluminescence is also used by living organisms to hunt prey, as a defense mechanism against their predators, find mates during mating season, and execute other vital activities. For an organism to have this characteristic, a chemical reaction that results in bioluminescence requires two unique chemicals and those are luciferin and either luciferase or photoprotein. Luciferin is the compound that actually produces light. When found in a chemical reaction, luciferin is the substrate. The bioluminescent color (yellow in fireflies, greenish in lanternfish) is a result of the arrangement of luciferin molecules. Some bioluminescent animals, like brittle stars, have a way to detach body parts to distract their predators. The predator follows the glowing arm of the brittle stars, the rest escapes and crawls away from the enemy. Some use this as an offensive strategy and they usually use it to lure or search for their prey. Anglerfish are those who use this to lure their prey. This fish species has a huge head, sharp teeth, and a long, thin, fleshy growth (called a filament) on the top of its head which they use as bait. They light this up and smaller fishes come close to it out of curiosity. Once ready, anglerfish snap their prey. At night in the woods, we can also see this spectacular phenomenon. Just like adult fireflies, also called lightning bugs, they also emit light. They use this not just to amaze us but to attract mates. Although both male and female fireflies can have this characteristic, in North America, most flashing fireflies are males. Of all the bioluminescent life forms that display an amazing light show in the dark deep sea waters, there is this one tiny creature scientists consider as one the best performers. The firefly squid (commonly known as the “sparkling enope squid” or the “hotaru-ika” in Japan) is a squid found in the family Enoploteuthidae. This is also known to science as Watasenia scintillans and it is referred to in Japan as "hotaru-ika" which is abundant in the Japanese shores during their breeding season but spend most of their lives in deeper waters between 200 and 400 meters. It is a member of the cephalopod family and is associated with many other squid species all over the world. It is considered as one of the most promising bioluminescent marine life because of its ability to flash lights that bear a resemblance to a firefly. This squid is popular for the spectacular light show that occurs each year off the coast of Japan as millions of these tiny animals gather to spawn. This is considered a small member of the squid family and they are equipped with special light-producing organs called photophores. These photophores can be found on many parts of the squid's body and they exude a deep blue light which is highly visible, especially in dark deep waters. Large photophores can be found on the tips of their tentacles and are also present around their eyes. Their body is also covered with thousands of tiny photophores and these give them the ability to emit light along their entire form. The lights they emit can be flashed in an endless number of animated patterns. It is said that the firefly squid is the only member of the squid family that is believed to have color vision since most cephalopods have only one visual pigment but the firefly squid has three. They also have a double-layered retina in the back of the eye. These adaptations for color vision may have evolved to enable firefly squid to help them decode the patterns of light created by other members of the species. These amazing creatures are bioluminescent organisms and they emit blue light from photophores, which some scientists have hypothesized could be used for communication, camouflage, or attracting food. Some scientists say that they may be using this to disguise the squid's shape and confuse predators, allowing it to hide or escape. Up to this date, it is still unclear in the scientific community exactly how this species uses their bioluminescence or what is really their purpose for emitting this light-like mechanism. Firefly squids are considered predators to copepods, small fishes and other smaller squids. The firefly squid is considered an active predator, especially with its normal diet like smaller sea creatures. It is believed that the squid uses its blue lights to attract prey as this may look interesting to them. With an on-and-off flash of their lights, they can lure small fish and then tackle them with their powerful tentacles causing their prey to lose. Firefly squid can be found at depths of about 1,200 feet (365 meters). At night, they migrate to the surface in search of food before returning to the depths from whence they came. The firefly squid lives about a year. What’s fascinating to these creatures is that, at the end of their lives, female firefly squids return close to shore to release their eggs and then die shortly thereafter. During this migration season, Japanese fishermen are taking advantage to collect dying female firefly squids. Many tourists are also visiting Japan during the spawning season to see the bright blue light created from the firefly squid's bioluminescence light up the bay, making their spawning season not only a fishing opportunity but also a tourist attraction helping their economy. Firefly squid are commonly found throughout the western Pacific Ocean and they can be typically found at depths ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet. This squid is considered one of the best delicacies in Japan since it is very abundant in their area, especially during spawning season. They are often eaten raw but are also delicious when marinated and grilled. Chefs in Japan have created various recipes using this as their main ingredient. As for taste, the firefly squid is bold and briney, but not too “fishy.” It’s often compared to rich, fatty shrimp. If you like seafood, you’ll also love firefly squid and if you have plans to visit Japan; Toyama Bay is the place to be. In spring, these tiny squids are shipped from Toyama Prefecture around the country as a seasonal delicacy and it is a well-received cuisine even in the nearby countries. Just east of the city of Toyama is one of the primary locations for this. When you visit the restaurants in the area, they will offer different types of how you want them cooked. Tempura style, in a hot pot, fried, grilled - you name it! There are night cruises where tourists can watch them being brought in from fixed nets in the middle of the bay. The fishermen have open braziers on their boats and like to grill the squid whole, flavoring them with a splash of soy sauce but some also eat them raw. You can also get a chance to try the squid blanched in hot water and simply served with a dab of karashi sumiso or a mixture of white miso with vinegar and mustard powder. Eating seafood is good for our health. It is low in saturated fats, contains high levels of protein, and is packed full of important nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and B vitamins. Any form of sea life regarded as food by humans, prominently including fish and shellfish are good for our diet. Shellfish include various species of mollusks such as clams, oysters, mussels, and cephalopods such as octopus and squid. Crustaceans like shrimp, crabs, and lobster are considered good sources of the said vitamins. Echinoderms like sea cucumbers and sea urchins are considered great seafood too. Seafood is an essential source of animal protein in many diets around the world, aside from the fact they really taste great, residents in coastal areas consider this as their main food source since this is abundant in their area. Semi-vegetarians or those who are practicing a pescetarian diet find this a great source of protein as a substitute for the usual red meat. Seafood is consumed all over the world although fish and other types like crustaceans are also one of the most common food allergens. Squid, in general, belongs to the mollusks family and usually comes with an elongated soft body, large eyes, eight arms, and two tentacles. They can change color for camouflage and make signals either with their mate or to signal predators nearby. Some species are bioluminescent, just like our sample firefly squid, and use their light for counter-illumination camouflage, while most species that we know eject a cloud of ink to distract predators and then escape away. Have you ever been to a beach wherein the shore shines, especially at night? Well, this is a must-see attraction for those who love the beach under the moonlight! Romantic, fascinating, and breathtaking phenomenon. If you want to witness this amazing and astounding natural phenomenon, there are a lot of places you can visit. One of them is Torrey Pines Beach in San Diego where we can see red waves during daylight while blue waves will enchant you at night. Romantic and relaxing at the same time, indeed. This crowd-pleaser in San Diego is an exceptional place to have fun during day time and at night when the water is glowing, that’s your chance to capture this amazing natural phenomenon through a quick snap with your loved ones or friends. The most remarkable one is Mosquito Bay or also known as Bioluminescent Bay. It is a tranquil, warm and shallow bay on the southern shore of the Puerto Rico island of Vieques. This bay is considered world famous because of its extreme bioluminescence and unlike other beaches with the same special characteristics, this bay was declared as the brightest in the world. But have you ever wondered why the shore glows? The answer to that question is quite mind-blowing. A bioluminescent sea will glow and shimmer especially at night time when it's disturbed by the waves or splashes in the water at night. Unlike other beaches, shores that glow at night are because of the presence of bioluminescence algae. One example of bioluminescent algae is a dinoflagellate called Noctiluca, or sea sparkle. They are so tiny that thousands of them can fit in a single drop of water and they sparkle neon blue at night because of waves when you run your hand through the waters or through any movement. Scientists think that Noctiluca flashes to startle or scare away its predators as a form of defensive mechanism. Although some of them are big enough to be seen without a microscope, most of them are really too small for you to see unless you notice them through water splashes. Most bioluminescent organisms like Noctiluca are found in the sea or ocean and they are rarely found in freshwater bodies of water. There are also other bioluminescent marine species including fish, bacteria, and jellies. Seeing the shores glow at night is really jaw-dropping though it’s not easy to capture this through our usual camera phones. If you want to take a snap, use a high ISO setting and a wide aperture of f/2.8 (or as low as you can go) to allow as much light to come through and hit the sensor. Fire your exposure as the wave comes towards you, and as the camera is taking the long exposure, you'll be able to capture the bioluminescence at its best when the wave breaks through the shore. Filming bioluminescence through a Sony a7sii or newer a7siii series camera can be helpful and user-friendly. Bioluminescent algae can have severe effects on human health and those should not be touched. It’s highly encouraged not to swim in waters containing algal blooms, no matter how amazing and gorgeous they are. Direct contact with our bare skin could lead to skin infections or even death. The best time to see these shores glow is in the hottest months of summer around July and August. During these months, they will make a neon blue of anything that touches them in the water. If you want to experience this, Puerto Mosquito or also known as Mosquito Bay is located on the southern shore of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The bay is often referred to as “magical” and those who are able to experience this firsthand, especially the tourists find it true because of this spectacular event happening at night. The bioluminescent bay in Vieques was officially declared the brightest in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2008. Since Hurricane Maria caused much destruction on the island, it disrupted the delicate balance of the bay and Mosquito Bay went dark. Though it still illuminates at night, it was said to be way better and brighter in the past. If you’ll be in Puerto Rico, try your best to experience this as this is a priceless experience and memory. Scientists say it contains up to 160,000 microscopic dinoflagellates per liter of water hence named as the “brightest bay in the world”. This bay was also considered part of the Top 50 most romantic places on Earth. Though it's against the law for tourists to swim in this bay, tours still operate here. While we typically see the bioluminescence nightly throughout the year, tour guides recommend that the phases of the new moon are the best time to view this amazing natural phenomenon since there will be no moonlight reflecting on the water and this will help tourists easily see its magic in the waters. During the summer months, these bioluminescent planktons will give off a neon blue glow at night. Southern California, on the other hand, experiences “red tide” caused by the Lingulodinium polyedrum organism, a type of dinoflagellate algae, every few years. The waters around San Diego turn rust-colored during the day. Any movement at night causes the algae to emit its signature and amazing bioluminescent glow. Meanwhile, some places known for their glowing conditions are not because of algae at all, like the famed Toyama Bay in Japan. This one is different since the glow is coming from phosphorescent creatures called firefly squid which flock to the bay in the summer months to breed and reproduce. Earth has indeed a lot of spectacular phenomena and amazing creatures. It is important that we know their value and how they play an important role in our ecosystem hence we must take care of our own planet. This is our home. We must preserve its beauty for the next generations.