Sometimes, nature is serenity in motion. In the right moment, you can feel an overwhelming sense of clarity, peace, and happiness – all inspired from the sights or sounds of nature.
I think the video below will inspire these emotions and more.
In rural Pennsylvania, Diana Lehr captured a surreal firefly encounter.
The fireflies seem to be performing a dance. They glow across the field, like glittering lights in a cool blue and green backdrop.
Just one screenshot doesn’t do the video justice. You truly need to see the fireflies in motion to appreciate their beauty.
You may be wondering, what makes fireflies glow?
What appears as a light is actually a chemical reaction occurring inside a firefly’s body. This light production is called bioluminescence.
While there are many chemical reactions, the most common reaction that causes a firefly to light up is bioluminescence. The reaction results from oxygen combining with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the chemical luciferin in the presence of luciferase (a bioluminescent enzyme), light is produced.
However, a firefly’s light is different from a light bulb. A light bulb produces a lot of heat in addition to light, but a firefly produces a cold light without energy being lost as heat.
However, it is important that the firefly’s light-producing organ does not get hot like a light bulb because then the firefly would not survive whenever it lit up.
Fireflies control the beginning and end of this chemical reaction. Therefore, they can start and stop its light emission by adding oxygen to the other chemicals needed to produce light.
Knowing this, it’s charming to think that the fireflies intentionally put on a show for Diana to capture.
Regardless, she was at the right place and the right time. Her video has garnered over 15 million views on Facebook, and I can encourage you to see why for yourself.
Please SHARE this amazing video with your friends and family.
