logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
13m 18s

The luminous mystery of fireflies | Wan ...

TED
About this episode

There are more than 2,000 firefly species, found on every continent except for Antarctica — an astonishing diversity of movement and light. Firefly scientist Wan Faridah Akmal Jusoh explores the mysteries of these little beetles that light up the night and details her quest to discover and protect new species as their habitats are at risk of disappearing.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
The shape-shifting sounds of the accordion | Maria Telesheva
Musician Maria Telesheva plays the accordion like a second set of lungs, showcasing this powerhouse instrument and its impressive 226 buttons — whether she’s playing Bach or the Beatles. In this talk and performance, she discusses how she fell in love with this musical acrobat an ... Show More
13m 22s
Aug 26
Dolly Parton is burning up, not burning out | from WorkLife with Adam Grant
Dolly Parton's hit songs — like "9 to 5," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" — have captured generation after generation. In this episode, recorded around the release of "Run, Rose, Run" (her novel co-written with James Patterson and paired with a full-length companion album), ... Show More
28m 33s
Aug 25
How 180 strangers built a library together | Rebecca Toh
Does the fix for a fragmented world begin with a shared bookshelf? Photographer Rebecca Toh traces how she joined with 180 other people to build a community-funded library where strangers rent shelves, fill them with their personal collections and forge something rare: real conne ... Show More
12m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
Lampyridology (FIREFLIES) aka Sparklebuttology Updated Encore with Sara Lewis
<p>Let’s light up your life and butt. World-renowned firefly expert Dr. Sara Lewis of Tufts University gives us some updates to her 2021 episode, sharing her love of a bug that many think is merely mythological. Learn how these tiny animals illuminate the night, the dos and don’t ... Show More
1h 7m
May 2024
FIREFLIES with Sara Lewis
<p>We’re back with another fresh episode of Smologies to light up your life and your butt. World renowned firefly expert Dr. Sara Lewis of Tufts University joins to share her love of a bug that many think is merely a mythological delight. Learn how these tiny animals illuminate t ... Show More
22m 20s
Sep 2012
Bioluminescence: A Bright and Shiny Fish
<p>Science has a handle on fireflies and glowworms, but most bioluminescent animals live in the ocean and are tough to study. Today, researchers are still figuring out why some animals produce light. Dive with Josh and Chuck into this illuminating topic.</p><p> </p> Learn more ab ... Show More
36m 40s
Nov 2024
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Fireflies in synchrony
Once a year they come out, by the thousands. Fireflies. But these aren’t just any fireflies. These are Photinus Carolinas, also known as synchronous fireflies They blink on and off together. It’s an amazing site. On this episode, I head to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to e ... Show More
47m 21s
Nov 2022
Moths: The story of the butterfly of the night
The moth is an insect that’s almost 200 million years old. Throughout human history, its attraction to light, its amazing ability to camouflage, and its nocturnal activity have given rise to myths, spiritual beliefs and been the inspiration for art and literature – especially the ... Show More
39m 39s
Aug 2025
What makes fireflies glow?
<p>Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex series of chemical reactions involving specific molecules like luciferin and enzymes like luciferase. The discussion extends to ho ... Show More
56m 31s
Sep 2022
Searching for a Butterfly in a Conflict Zone
Photographer Rena Effendi’s father, a Soviet entomologist, collected 90,000 butterflies in his lifetime. But there was one species he couldn’t capture—Satyrus effendi. Effendi takes on the quest to track down the endangered butterfly named after her father, but to do so, she must ... Show More
30m 2s
Mar 2024
117 Whimsical Glows: Discovering the Beauty of Firefly Petunias
"Tea Over Interiors" hosts Dee and Alicia dive into the enchanting world of Firefly Petunias in this episode. From discussing their unique glow-in-the-dark quality to exploring creative ways to incorporate them into outdoor landscapes and home decor, the hosts share their excitem ... Show More
12m 46s
Nov 2019
The Firefly Queen
The Firefly Queen glows so bright that everyone comes to see her all the time, but will she ever meet anyone with a fire of their own? If you would like to support Stories Podcast, you can subscribe and give us a five star review on iTunes, head to patreon.com/stories and pledge ... Show More
18m 1s
Aug 2025
Moths v Butterflies - Katy Brand, Jane Hill and Chris Jiggins
What really separates a moth from a butterfly? Is it just a matter of day and night, or is there more to this fluttering feud than meets the eye? Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince flap into the fabulous world of Lepidoptera with Professor Jane Hill, Professor Chris Jiggins, and ... Show More
42m 8s