Every year in the summer, Japan’s Toyama Bay is lit up with blue firefly squid.
I have seen bioluminescence before at a particularly disgusting beach in Long Island. Unfortunately the water was so gross I barely dipped a hand in to play with it, but I can tell you that bioluminescent bays are definitely something everyone should experience in their lives, especially when firefly squid are involved.
Every year in Toyama Bay in Japan, thousands of firefly squid light up the waters, creating a beautiful natural light show. The phenomenon is caused by bioluminescent cephalopods called ‘glowing firefly squid’ which normally live 1200 feet underwater, but are pushed to the surface by waves during the summer.
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The squid rave party light effects are caused by photophores around their eyes and on their tentacles, which contain chemicals that are very similar to the ones in fireflies. In case you aren’t a scientist, that is where the name comes from.
The coolest thing about these squid is that they can actually coordinate their lights and flash in unison, leading me to believe that whoever created the universe is no stranger to molly.
