Bonus curios: synchronous fireflies light up the night
Early in the summer, fireflies flicker around forest trees. Their twinkling patterns seem random and uncoordinated, but that’s not always the case.
In the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina in the United States and dense forests of southeast Asia, some firefly species have rhythm. For about a half-minute, firefly males blink together to their own secret beat, then pause, as though waiting for a response. Scientists think these coordinated light shows may help these fireflies attract the right mates in places where multiple firefly species share a home. We like to imagine that the appeal of a good sense of rhythm is universal.
An interactive diorama of the earth’s biomes, Plants brims with secrets and surprises—we’ve even made a handbook of hints and fun facts for you and your kids. In these posts, we’ll peer into the sometimes-strange truths behind the worlds in our apps.
Early in the summer, fireflies flicker around forest trees. Their twinkling patterns seem random and uncoordinated, but that’s not always the case.
In the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina in the United States and dense forests of southeast Asia, some firefly species have rhythm. For about a half-minute, firefly males blink together to their own secret beat, then pause, as though waiting for a response. Scientists think these coordinated light shows may help these fireflies attract the right mates in places where multiple firefly species share a home. We like to imagine that the appeal of a good sense of rhythm is universal.
An interactive diorama of the earth’s biomes, Plants brims with secrets and surprises—we’ve even made a handbook of hints and fun facts for you and your kids. In these posts, we’ll peer into the sometimes-strange truths behind the worlds in our apps.
