As a night hunter, the Hawaiian bobtail squid produces its light that is not seen but invisible to blend in with moonlight and stars. The secret of the animal is its collaboration with electroluminescent bacteria. This association may also contain secrets that we can benefit from, but in a seemingly independent way. It can benefit our health.
Remember: the Hawaiian octopus lives in the crystal clear waters of the Hawaiian Islands. Moonlight and stars would normally bring out the silhouette of the predator creature below. However, the bobtail squid emits a glow from below that mimics nighttime ambient light in intensity and wavelength. The result is devious: no silhouettes, no shadows. The "high-tech" unit of the squid is its lightweight organ that contains bioluminescent bacteria that produce enough light to hide their host.
Bacteria can also help regulate the octopus' sleep-wake cycle. This is of interest to researchers because the bobtail squid may not be the only creature to have a connection between bacteria and circadian cycles, or daily rhythms at work. For example, in mammals, bacteria that play a role in digestion can also be associated with circadian rhythms. Disturbances in these rhythms have been linked to depression, diabetes, obesity and insomnia. Therefore, studying the bacterial system of octopus can provide information on human health.