logo
episode-header-image
Aug 21
56m 31s

What makes fireflies glow?

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
About this episode

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 how these mechanisms find applications in scientific research, such as identifying tumors in mice. The episode is interspersed with nostalgic summer stories, making it a blend of chemistry education and personal anecdotes.

00:00 Nostalgic Summer Evenings
00:33 Fireflies and Childhood Wonder
01:04 Introduction to Firefly Chemistry
02:22 Shoutout to Ash and Podcast Tips
03:58 Diving into Bioluminescence
04:52 The Chemistry Behind Firefly Light
11:17 Understanding Acid-Base Reactions
16:13 The Role of Luciferase
18:43 The Unstable Four-Membered Ring
28:39 Understanding Molecular Structures
29:33 The Instability of Molecular Rings
33:39 Fireflies and Bioluminescence
40:53 Applications in Medical Science
45:37 Nostalgic Summer Memories
52:48 Supporting the Show and Final Thoughts

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

References from this episode:

  1. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/luciferin/3005839.article
  2. https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-chemistry-behind-how-fireflies-glow
  3. https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.258103
  4. https://youtu.be/pTPMwZK2-yM
  5. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5b03820
  6. https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1021/jp301910p
  7. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cphc.201300330
  8. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cphc.201200195
  9. https://iubmb-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/iub.134
  10. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cbic.200500443
  11. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/rainbow-makers/3003381.article
  12. https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/f/firefly-luciferin.html

Thanks to our monthly supporters

  • Kyle McCray
  • Justine
  • Emily Hardy
  • Ash
  • Vince W
  • Julie S.
  • Heather Ragusa
  • Autoclave
  • Chelsea Morelos
  • Dorien VD
  • Scott Beyer
  • Jessie Reder
  • Ciara Linville
  • J0HNTR0Y
  • Jeannette Napoleon
  • Cullyn R
  • Erica Bee
  • Elizabeth P
  • Rachel Reina
  • Letila
  • Katrina Barnum-Huckins
  • Suzanne Phillips
  • Venus Rebholz
  • Lyn Stubblefield
  • Jacob Taber
  • Brian Kimball
  • Kristina Gotfredsen
  • Timothy Parker
  • Steven Boyles
  • Chris Skupien
  • Chelsea B
  • Avishai Barnoy
  • Hunter Reardon
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Up next
Today
How does Poo-Pourri prevent unpleasant smells?
Melissa and Jam discuss the chemistry behind Poopourri Toilet Spray. Melissa explains how the spray works by forming a non-polar oil layer on top of water, preventing smelly polar molecules like skatole and sulfur compounds from escaping into the air. They also touch upon the pra ... Show More
35m 50s
Oct 2
How do odor absorbers work?
#072 Rebroadcast You know what they say, everyone's experienced odors, and 99.99% of all odors smell. We have room sprays, candles, air fresheners, etc. But how can we absorb or eliminate bad smells? Can chemistry do it? How? Let's find out! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ ... Show More
34m 26s
Sep 25
Are your lips being tricked by chapstick?
Melissa and Jam delve into the science behind lip balm, investigating whether products like Chapstick and Burt's Bees are beneficial or if they could be causing more harm. They explore the ingredients commonly found in these products, discuss what to avoid for chapped lips, and s ... Show More
48m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 26
The Dead Composer Whose ‘Brain’ Still Makes Music
In a hauntingly innovative exhibit, brain cells grown from the late composer Alvin Lucier’s blood generate sound. Set in a museum in Perth, Australia, the installation blurs the line between art and neuroscience. Host Rachel Feltman and associate editor Allison Parshall explore t ... Show More
25m 25s
Sep 19
The Spark of Life
In the 1920s, a Russian biologist studying onion roots made a surprising discovery: underground, down in the darkness, it seemed like the cells inside the onion roots were making their own … light. The “onion root experiment” went on to become something of a cult classic in scien ... Show More
36m 1s
Feb 2025
Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just for Romance—The Science of Deep Friendships
Love isn’t just about romance. This Valentine’s Day, we’re exploring the power of deep nonromantic bonds. Host Rachel Feltman sits down with Rhaina Cohen, a producer and editor for NPR’s podcast Embedded and author of The Other Significant Others, to discuss the history and psych ... Show More
17m 2s
Aug 22
Could Peanut Allergies Be Cured?
Peanut allergies have surged dramatically in recent decades, and scientists are still working to understand why. In this episode, journalist Maryn Mckenna, who recently authored an article on the subject, and host Rachel Feltman explore the latest research on causes, treatments a ... Show More
20m 29s
Apr 2025
Explosive Science with Kate the Chemist
What are chemical reactions like in space? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice team up with Kate the Chemist to explore how cesium helps us tell time, the elusive quest for the periodic table’s “island of stability,” how AI is revolutionizing chemistry, and more!NOTE: StarTalk+ Pa ... Show More
54m 29s
Sep 15
Kissing Bugs, Koalas and Clues to Life on Mars
A paper published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues that Chagas disease is now endemic in the U.S. Koalas may finally be spared from a deadly epidemic. Meanwhile NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has uncovered tantalizing clues about potential ancient microbia ... Show More
9m 37s
Aug 25
Science’s Greatest 180s
Science doesn’t always get it right the first time—and that’s part of the journey. In this anniversary episode, we explore how ideas about nerve damage, sustainable materials and alien life have done a full 180. Recommended Reading Celebrating 180 Years of Scientific American 180 ... Show More
8m 4s
Sep 17
The Role Our Microbiome Plays In Our ‘Gut Feelings’
Scientists are tuning in to a surprising conversation happening inside us—between our gut and our brain. Host Rachel Feltman chats with Maya Kaelberer, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona’s department of physiology, to explore how intestinal cells and microbiomes ... Show More
13m 26s
Feb 2025
Exploring the Hidden Life in the Air around Us with Carl Zimmer
Scientists now agree that COVID spreads via airborne transmission. But during the early days of the disease, public health officials suggested that it mainly did so via close contact. The subsequent back-and-forth over how COVID spread brought science journalist Carl Zimmer into ... Show More
16m 47s
Apr 2025
From the Internet’s Beginnings to Our Understanding of Consciousness, This Editor Has Seen It All
Senior mind and brain editor Gary Stix has covered the breadth of science and technology over the past 35 years at Scientific American. He joins host Rachel Feltman to take us through the rise of the Internet and the acceleration of advancement in neuroscience that he’s covered t ... Show More
20m 15s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami