Something many people know about me is that I’m a nerd [and not even a good one since I suck at math]. Science has always been something I love studying, particularly the social sciences, biology, genetics, and environmental science. Being the nerd that I am, I started thinking about fireflies in depth today for the first time since probably third grade.
Fireflies are fascinating creatures to me, a lot of it has to do with the poetic metaphors light represents. They are the only known self-illuminating species on the planet [above sea level- I am well aware of such fish as the angler which in essence lures prey by illuminating a tiny lantern on the edge of a stalk in front of their mouths, but the message I’m going for today is more positive, so I will just ignore creepy, scary looking fish for the moment].
I think it’s so cool that fireflies can literally take their light with them wherever they go and literally brighten up a room. Much like a lot of people that I know do metaphorically every day.
Since I’m a nerd, I find it interesting that almost 100% of the firefly’s luminescence is given off as light, whereas in comparison, the average light bulb only gives off about 10% of its energy as light while the other 90% is wasted as heat. (this can be observed by lightly sprinkling baby powder on a light bulb after it’s been on for about 15-20 minutes. The powder will fly upwards, away from the bulb because heat rises, and the energy from the heat is strong enough to push the powder away …that was one of my science projects back in the day- but I keep digressing!)
Why am I rambling about these bugs you ask? Everyone’s heard some sort of saying along the lines of “You light up my life” or “You are the light of the world” or “Let your light shine” or the “idea lightbulb” turning on in cartoons, or something about an inner flame, or sparking a fire of sorts etc. We all know that as human beings, we need light to survive. Moderate sun exposure provides the body’s major source of vitamin D from ultraviolet B rays [UVB], which helps the body’s immune system function properly (and not to mention a nice tan! yay!) According to medicalnewstoday.com, about 50,000-63,000 annual cancer deaths in the U.S. (10% of all cancer deaths) could be prevented if all Americans had sufficient vitamin D. In the same article, they mention “UVB and/or vitamin D have been found in observational studies to be associated with reduced risk for over a dozen forms of cancer, multiple sclerosis, osteoporotic fractures, and several other diseases.” Even more obvious health benefits of the sun, are pretty well known about higher rates of depression and suicide where “cabin fever” occurs, or less sunlight throughout the year in various locations. Current studies prove these statistics to be true over and over again.
Then there is of course man made light, which makes it possible for us to continue our daily lives at night, instead of stopping everything we do because we cannot see in darkness. Light has many purposes for human beings. Artists for example, use light as a tool to create a desired effect or mood, whether it be film, painting, stage productions, photography, etc. Even at the opposite end of the occupation spectrum, scientists could not do their job without light. For example, the optical microscope, also known as the “light microscope” uses visible light and a system of lenses to magnify images. In short- we all NEED light.
Fireflies have species specific patterns in their mating calls [light flashes]. During a certain time of night, males fly around flashing their patterns, so that females of the same species can respond with the corresponding signals. The females watch the males from a distance, usually perched on vegetation near the ground, and will respond to the male’s messages at a fixed time delay after the male’s last flash. A flash dialogue takes place between the male and female after they’ve spotted each other, as the male seeks her out to mate. (source: http://hymfiles.biosci.ohio-state.edu/) Just as people give off signals to potential mates, both verbally and physically. Even if we don’t light up our bum, we have specific signals we give off to those we fancy and find similar to ourselves or relate to in some way. Most social interaction particularly of the sensual context happens for us at night also.
Fireflies use light to attract members of the opposite sex, and really- don’t humans too? People that can light up a room with their smile or their personality, attract others to them, seemingly effortlessly. This type of attraction, or ability to draw others to oneself can range from friendship to sexual attraction. How empowering it is to know we too can carry our own individual luminescence with us everywhere we go. Light (even when speaking metaphorically) is infectious. We can feel the warmth of positive energy even if we can’t exactly define it or scientifically pin point it. And even though we can’t keep such “enlightening” people in a jar to brighten our day, we can keep them in our life.
![Something many people know about me is that I’m a nerd [and not even a good one since I suck at math]. Science has always been something I love studying, particularly the social sciences, biology, genetics, and environmental science. Being the nerd that I am, I started thinking about fireflies in depth today for the first time since probably third grade.
Fireflies are fascinating creatures to me, a lot of it has to do with the poetic metaphors light represents. They are the only known self-illuminating species on the planet [above sea level- I am well aware of such fish as the angler which in essence lures prey by illuminating a tiny lantern on the edge of a stalk in front of their mouths, but the message I’m going for today is more positive, so I will just ignore creepy, scary looking fish for the moment].
I think it’s so cool that fireflies can literally take their light with them wherever they go and literally brighten up a room. Much like a lot of people that I know do metaphorically every day.
Since I’m a nerd, I find it interesting that almost 100% of the firefly’s luminescence is given off as light, whereas in comparison, the average light bulb only gives off about 10% of its energy as light while the other 90% is wasted as heat. (this can be observed by lightly sprinkling baby powder on a light bulb after it’s been on for about 15-20 minutes. The powder will fly upwards, away from the bulb because heat rises, and the energy from the heat is strong enough to push the powder away …that was one of my science projects back in the day- but I keep digressing!)
Why am I rambling about these bugs you ask? Everyone’s heard some sort of saying along the lines of “You light up my life” or “You are the light of the world” or “Let your light shine” or the “idea lightbulb” turning on in cartoons, or something about an inner flame, or sparking a fire of sorts etc. We all know that as human beings, we need light to survive. Moderate sun exposure provides the body’s major source of vitamin D from ultraviolet B rays [UVB], which helps the body’s immune system function properly (and not to mention a nice tan! yay!) According to medicalnewstoday.com, about 50,000-63,000 annual cancer deaths in the U.S. (10% of all cancer deaths) could be prevented if all Americans had sufficient vitamin D. In the same article, they mention “UVB and/or vitamin D have been found in observational studies to be associated with reduced risk for over a dozen forms of cancer, multiple sclerosis, osteoporotic fractures, and several other diseases.” Even more obvious health benefits of the sun, are pretty well known about higher rates of depression and suicide where “cabin fever” occurs, or less sunlight throughout the year in various locations. Current studies prove these statistics to be true over and over again.
Then there is of course man made light, which makes it possible for us to continue our daily lives at night, instead of stopping everything we do because we cannot see in darkness. Light has many purposes for human beings. Artists for example, use light as a tool to create a desired effect or mood, whether it be film, painting, stage productions, photography, etc. Even at the opposite end of the occupation spectrum, scientists could not do their job without light. For example, the optical microscope, also known as the “light microscope” uses visible light and a system of lenses to magnify images. In short- we all NEED light.
Fireflies have species specific patterns in their mating calls [light flashes]. During a certain time of night, males fly around flashing their patterns, so that females of the same species can respond with the corresponding signals. The females watch the males from a distance, usually perched on vegetation near the ground, and will respond to the male’s messages at a fixed time delay after the male’s last flash. A flash dialogue takes place between the male and female after they’ve spotted each other, as the male seeks her out to mate. (source: http://hymfiles.biosci.ohio-state.edu/) Just as people give off signals to potential mates, both verbally and physically. Even if we don’t light up our bum, we have specific signals we give off to those we fancy and find similar to ourselves or relate to in some way. Most social interaction particularly of the sensual context happens for us at night also.
Fireflies use light to attract members of the opposite sex, and really- don’t humans too? People that can light up a room with their smile or their personality, attract others to them, seemingly effortlessly. This type of attraction, or ability to draw others to oneself can range from friendship to sexual attraction. How empowering it is to know we too can carry our own individual luminescence with us everywhere we go. Light (even when speaking metaphorically) is infectious. We can feel the warmth of positive energy even if we can’t exactly define it or scientifically pin point it. And even though we can’t keep such “enlightening” people in a jar to brighten our day, we can keep them in our life.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3n18sENpq1qzxdv8o1_400.jpg)
