Nigeria, Oct. 26 -- 1. Their light produces almost no heat

Fireflies produce light through a chemical reaction involving a substance called luciferin, an enzyme called luciferase, oxygen and energy supplied by the cell. This process is remarkably efficient, producing very little heat.

Unlike an ordinary light bulb, which wastes much of its energy as heat, a firefly's glow is often called cold light. This allows the insect to flash without burning itself.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from The News Chronicle....