Charles Darwin also wrote about the glowing oceans in his travails. There are accounts of coal-miners using dried fish skins, and even bottled fireflies as safe light sources. The first accounts of bioluminescence are found in the works of Dioscorides and even Pliny the Elder, who believed that certain bioluminescent organisms had medicinal properties. It is a common occurrence frequently observed in various organisms, ranging from simple ones like bacteria to complex animals like deep-sea fish or fireflies, and even some fungi.

‘Bioluminescence’ refers to the phenomenon of chemically induced emission of light (or other electromagnetic radiations) by a living organism. This chapter explores the origins, ecology and future prospects of bioluminescence in detail. As far as humans are concerned, efforts are being made to channel this capability to the best of our use, though some of these are still in their infancy. In spite of the lack of understanding, many spectacular ecological interactions like offence, defense, courtship or intra-specific synchrony have been observed, studied and documented, and their significance understood. As agreed by many, bioluminescence conferred certain evolutionary advantages which still remain unclear. The ecological interactions resulting from bioluminescence are even more interesting and diverse, but many of them are still shrouded in mystery because of a lack of in-situ study. Many organisms that do not possess this ability partake in symbiotic relationships, resulting in a variety of anatomical and behavioral modifications. The capability to produce biological light is found in various species, ranging from tiny bacteria to huge fishes like lantern sharks. However, the origins, distribution and ecology of bioluminescence still remain obscure.

As fascinating as the phenomenon is, various studies have been undertaken to harness this phenomenon for human use. Bioluminescence, or the ability to emit light biologically, has evolved multiple times across various taxa.

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