There are already several consumer applications of bioluminescence: one US firm has made use of it to manufacture luminous drinks for sale in nightclubs.

BBC: The light fantastic: Harnessing Nature's glow

But even exhaustion doesn't keep me from getting up at 3 a.m. for yet another astounding view: the swirling Northern Lights, like ocean bioluminescence in the sky.

WSJ: Heli-Skiing in Greenland

It also says these same bioluminescence techniques could be used as a diagnostic indicator of pollution levels or even as a biosensor for monitoring diseases like diabetes.

CNN: Glowing bacteria could power 'bio-light'

Until recently, little had been known about this species, apart from the fact that like many deep sea creatures it has the ability to glow - a trait called bioluminescence.

BBC: Glowing shark scares off predators with 'lightsabers'

The research team, led by synthetic biologist Omri Amirav-Drory and plant scientist Kyle Taylor, aims to transplant a bioluminescence gene into a small plant called Arabidopsis, a member of the mustard family.

BBC: Glowing tobacco plant

So called rainbow proteins (a spin-off from work into bioluminescence), which change colour in response to particular compounds, are also an option for detecting environmental toxins, or the potential agents of terrorism.

BBC: The light fantastic: Harnessing Nature's glow