What does it mean to be bioluminescent? Bioluminescence sounds like a pretty cool and complicated word, but in simple terms, it means an object has a glowing quality. Organisms like jellyfish, fireflies, and certain types of fungi have special chemicals in their systems that create bioluminescence and make them emit a beautiful glow. If you’re lucky enough to visit a beach during the right time of year, some of that bioluminescence might wash out into the water and onto the sand, giving the beach a magical glow.