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NatureChapter 1 of 5

How Fireflies Make Their Light

Living Lanterns

Those glowing summer evenings are powered by some remarkable chemistry, and a secret language of flashes.

A summer meadow at dusk filled with glowing fireflies above tall grass, trees silhouetted behind
AI-generated image

For many people, fireflies are one of the best parts of a summer evening.

These small beetles light up the dusk with soft flashes of yellow and green.

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Despite their name, fireflies aren't flies at all. They are a type of beetle, and in some places they're called lightning bugs.

Their glow is made inside their bodies, through a process called bioluminescence.

Continue reading: Chapter 2 of 5 →