Light plays a crucial role in various biological processes, from the mesmerizing bioluminescence in living organisms to photosynthesis. We will first explore recent advancements in the physics of single-cell bioluminescence and introduce a lab-scale model of bioluminescent breaking waves. To this end, we present a peculiar class of active systems, where mechanical forces result in chemical processes. Furthermore, we will delve into how the same organisms adapt to ever-changing light conditions by morphing their photosynthetic material. This dynamic process, confined by the rigid cell wall, requires sophisticated intracellular rearrangement and logistics strategies. We demonstrate how cells exploit metamaterial properties to efficiently adapt to environmental changes. By exposing cells to various physiological light conditions and applying temporal illumination sequences, we reveal that morphodynamics follow simple rules, allowing the use of coarse-grained equations of motion to describe these biological systems. Our study highlights how topologically complex metamaterials are applied in critical life-sustaining processes in nature and how simple dynamical rules can account for complex material transport in crowded intracellular environments.