How Fireflies Glow – The Chemistry of Bioluminescence

November 10, 2021  •  EPISODE 95

What makes fireflies glow? Join Roger Billings as he helps students explore the enchanting world of fireflies! Discover the amazing chemistry behind their glow and see how these tiny creatures light up the night with their bioluminescence.

About DrB

Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology. As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.


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155 Comments

  1. Jacob Frank

    That’s amazing guys, thank you for teaching us all of that

    Reply
  2. Sasha Austin

    Fireflies are so cool!

    Reply
  3. Brewington

    How fascinating that fireflies cannot glow in all colors!

    Reply
  4. Julian Smith

    love the chem hope to see it more love it.

    Reply
  5. Isaac

    That was cool!

    Reply
  6. Roxy

    I love fireflys I’ve never seen them before but thare so cool

    Reply
  7. Samuel Kosh

    Can fireflies glow in colors other than yellow or green?

    Reply
  8. Akil Bloodsaw

    Oh wow.

    Reply
  9. Blossom

    I love science!❤

    Reply
  10. Blossom

    I love fireflies but I’ve never seen one before

    Reply
  11. Ally

    Were I live there’s no firefly’s cause I live in the city

    Reply
  12. Juliann

    That experiment was really amazing I have not seen anything like that before!

    Reply
  13. zoe

    wow is that cool video or what?

    Reply
  14. Cooper Moser

    About how many fireflys are on our earth?

    Reply
  15. Daniel Max Swemmer

    Fireflies are amazing!!

    Reply
  16. Ethan

    I never knew what “in the lime light” meant. The fact that fireflies can control the oxygen is fascinating.

    Reply
  17. flowerbloom

    ur the best
    ;]

    Reply
  18. Serena E Work

    Do fireflies sleep during the day?

    Reply
  19. joseph

    I had never learned something so amazing than what I just learned right now.Thank you for the video

    Reply
  20. Kirsten

    This is so cool!

    Reply
  21. Lourdes

    I wish I knew how to catch a firefly. I’m so excited to see what is next in science live!

    Reply
  22. Isabella Wilds

    omg shes a singer woooow shes so good

    Reply
  23. Ranulph zapf

    I love fireflies!

    Reply
  24. Isaiah Smith

    Robots having the ability to feel what they touch win old be much different, and bioluminescence is cool.

    Reply
  25. Jose Madera

    so cool

    Reply
  26. Kenzie

    So cool the song made me cry its so sad!

    Reply
  27. rachael

    what do fireflies like.

    Reply
  28. Jayden A.

    I love fireflies. I catch them every summer. It is cool knowing how they flash.

    Reply
  29. Jared A

    This is so cool. I didn’t know that oxygen was a part of bioluminescence.

    Reply
  30. Mark

    I don’t know how to catch a firefly.

    Reply
  31. Sabella kane

    I love to catch fire flies in the summer.

    Reply
  32. Jordan Benson

    on the song that’s my math teacher Ms. Rebecca

    Reply
  33. Jordan Benson

    I’ve never seen a firefly in my life

    Reply
  34. bonnie wade

    very cool cant wait to see whats next

    Reply
  35. Jamee

    Love it so much ❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩🤩
    Love fireflys

    Reply
  36. Cassie

    I love thissssss. I need to see it live. And the “I don’t like to be in the limelight” is very relatable.

    Reply
  37. Jennie honey

    what this song name, cool!

    Reply
  38. Hope

    This was really cool. My favorite part was learning about the phrase “I don’t like to be in the limelight.”

    Reply
  39. Cason Patterson

    I think bioluminescence is so neat. Fireflies are cool to watch. It is amazing in the ocean too. I hope to see that one day.

    Reply
  40. Kimberly Teasley

    too me it was amazing!!!!!!

    Reply
  41. Kaitlynn Teasley

    that was AWSOME, to me….

    Reply
  42. Hunter Teasley

    That was Very COOL to me too

    Reply
  43. Baker

    The song Fireflies was so beautiful, and inspiring!
    Fireflies are amazing creatures, yes.

    Reply
  44. Beckett

    Wow! This was very cool to me.

    Reply
  45. Paris Carter

    This is so cool thank you for this

    Reply
  46. Ethan Theron

    I learned about bioluminescence in sea animals last year.

    Reply
  47. Elijah

    2025!!

    Reply
  48. Tristan Adams

    Whos watching in 2025? but I like thisone

    Reply
  49. Charles Wright

    Fireflies are really fascinating creatures, they are just so cute with those black bead like eyes and their glowing is really cool. I sometimes wish I had the ability to be Bioluminescent, especially when navigating my house at night when my eyes aren’t adjusted to the dark.

    Reply
  50. Ericka Nord

    I love fireflies

    Reply
  51. Chloe

    Something about bio-luminescent things tickle my brain.Its so nice to look at.

    Reply
  52. Elaina

    30:16 secret of the firefly😂😂😂😂 so funny!

    Reply
  53. Phoebe Rodrigue

    loved it

    Reply
  54. Marshall

    I learned that fire flies produce light through a chemical reaction!

    Reply
  55. Ella

    The song video made me cry.😢

    Reply
  56. Ella😋

    Love the video it made me laugh!😂 I love the frameable secret pajet!!😂

    Reply
  57. sallie

    it made me cry the song did

    Reply
  58. Lucas Ramnarine

    Cool song Ms. Rebecca.

    Reply
  59. Jaxon

    I love the video. I think it is so dang cool. Y’all should watch, it will be a great experience.

    Reply
  60. Thoryn Culp

    This is the best.

    Reply
  61. Giovanni Caputo

    It was cool

    Reply
  62. Phoebe Rodrigue

    I love the song so much but it was sad.

    Reply
  63. Rosetta Stutzman

    haha my math teacher sings the song lol😁😁

    Reply
  64. Aaron Stutzman

    Awesome i love it so cool😱 🤯😎🤩😶😲 awesome

    Reply
  65. Ella Stutzman

    this is so cool🤯😱

    Reply
  66. Ella Stutzman

    this is so cool

    Reply
  67. Lorelai Jones

    cool

    Reply
  68. brenden

    I learn that fire flies make light from a chimerical reaction

    Reply
  69. Angel Colson

    That was really cool where did you get the stuff for the project because I want the stuff so I can try this project

    Reply
  70. Alex Steffensmeier

    This is so cool i love learning about fire flies fun fact my favorite element on the periodic table is carbon dioxide!!!!!

    Reply
  71. Alex Steffensmeier

    This is so cool i love learning about fire flies fun fact my favorite element on the periodic table is carbon dioxide

    Reply
  72. Johnathan Higgs

    I learn fire fly uses carbondixoide shine light

    Reply
  73. SHELBY WATKINS

    I love Dr. Pajet’s outfit and hair in this episode.

    Reply
  74. Isabel Durr from South Dakota

    I learned a lot about fire flies!!

    Reply
  75. Phoebe Rodrigue

    I will cry.

    Reply
  76. Phoebe Rodrigue

    The song is so sad why is it so sad good song just sad?

    Reply
  77. : )

    The blue color was so pretty.

    Reply
  78. Aphmau

    I like this video because it’s super pretty and I love the way it glows it’s so pretty🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

    Reply
  79. nathan

    very very coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

    Reply
  80. Lydia Hales

    I love that song!

    Reply
  81. Zoe Babcock

    the fact that you see the guy checkeing his bills and they or past due his son came over to come to cheer him up and he smiled ;] well he was streesd

    Reply
  82. AT

    Is there anything else that glows with bioluminescence??🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

    Reply
  83. Brian

    Fireflies are super duper cool.

    Reply
  84. brandon ewell

    that look like the stuff you see in Florida’s water a night

    Reply
  85. Kaitlynn

    how do fireflies glow?

    Reply
  86. ☆°ɞɛʟʟɑ°☆

    Oh my goodness! This one is my favorite one so far. I wish and hope you guys will make more like this some day.

    Reply
  87. Haley Alexis Johnson

    how many fireflys do yall think are in the world

    Reply
  88. Roslyn Fletcher

    so amazing I almost died.
    (X-X)

    Reply
  89. Kassidy Postema

    If fireflies can control their lighting and the speed to attract the females then the ones that are older, not blink as fast as the younger ones possibly?

    Reply
  90. Julian and juliana Marron

    It almost made me cry and think stuff in the past 😢 🥺🥺🥺😔😌😌😌

    Reply
  91. Julian

    Gosh that was so awesome

    Reply
  92. Louise Johnnson

    Wow what a cool video

    Reply
  93. Abigail Gomez

    this video was AMAZING!!!!!

    Reply
  94. Jaykob

    I love this video and that song in end almost they end had me crying

    Reply
  95. Jaykob

    when will u guys do Another live

    Reply
  96. Newton ชิติพัทธ์

    Wow. I did learn a lot about how fireflies glow.

    Reply
  97. Summer

    I really enjoyed this. Thank you.

    Reply
  98. Skylar phillips

    how long do fire flies live

    Reply
  99. Jayde R

    Just freaking AMAZING!! I think this has been my fav video yet!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  100. AJ

    Nice intro :0

    Reply
  101. AJ

    very cool :)))

    Reply
  102. Hailey

    I love science it is the most coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life

    Reply
  103. Tyler

    this firefly experiment is the best one yet truly a work of art keep up the good work guys. also there is one question i have: how IN THE WORLD do you get the stuff for this experiment cause i need it. thank you

    Reply
  104. Tyler

    i love the firefly song

    Reply
  105. Joann

    Love the song

    Reply
  106. Angel Brobbey

    I love the firefly song so inspiring. This is my favorite video.

    Reply
  107. charles

    loved the firefly song

    Reply
  108. charles

    really cool to learn how firefly’s light up bio luminescence. does the alge work the same way

    Reply
  109. Aaron

    Who discovered bioluminescent,s first also great song

    Reply
  110. Katie Miller

    It’s so cool to be able to see this kind of stuff. In the public school I went to they rarely did any labs, let alone something this cool!

    Reply
  111. Samuel Riek

    Yoo I love this one!

    Reply
  112. desmond

    OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  113. Nataliana Karlson

    This is awesome, how long did your experiment glow for?

    Reply
  114. Mia

    Nice Goofy voice.Ha ha!

    Cool! I love Fireflies.

    Reply
  115. kyree

    How was light made.

    Reply
  116. ☁Olivia☁

    I loved this >•<!!!! the neon blue color was gorgeous!

    Reply
  117. Coralynn Puska

    this is amazing im glad I do acellus!

    Reply
  118. Zion

    That was amazing

    Reply
  119. Jackson King

    That will be my best song I ever hear

    Reply
  120. Nguyễn Thu Huyền

    It’s sooooooooooooooooooo amazing
    I like Dr john

    Reply
  121. Lam Khanh Tran

    It’s sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo amazing!!!

    Reply
  122. Olive Wenger

    Cool

    Reply
  123. Bella😏

    I was pleasantly surprised by the new information I received. It’s one of the reasons why I hold Dr. B in high regard. He consistently shares honest and valuable insights that may not be readily available in traditional educational settings. This is why I hold Acellus in high esteem, as it has provided me with valuable knowledge. I also would love it if Dr. B makes a class with pajet Monet.

    Reply
  124. Sadie Small

    I love fireflies they where every where when i was a kid

    Reply
  125. Andrew McHan

    I loved to figure out how fireflys light up.

    Reply
  126. Shoshanna

    i love this science video. Fireflies are super cool.

    Reply
  127. maylee

    love this vid! I would had love to seen it live ! so cool! !(^^)! !(^^)!

    Reply
  128. maylee

    love this vid! I wish I could’ve seen it live ! so cool! !(^^)! !(^^)!

    Reply
  129. Kaliyah

    Very Interesting experiment, I learned a lot.

    Reply
  130. Michael

    This was really helpful for me because I’ve always wondered how fireflies glow, so thank you dr. Billings, and miss paj’ey for doing this firefly video

    Reply
  131. Sofia G

    Thank you very much for the video and lots of useful information .

    Reply
  132. D. NGOC

    Wow! The light is so bright! Now I know how fireflies made themself glow. This is amazing!

    Reply
  133. Brooklyn

    that was very cool with the firefly experiment it was very cool and I loved the song

    Reply
  134. Damien Flowers Pettus

    It was interesting to me

    Reply
  135. Sherif Ray

    Do firefly’s fly glow sometime’s in the day time?

    Reply
  136. jaxxon

    haha pajets light went out but the alien fixed it haha

    Reply
  137. Janat bajwa

    The firefly experiment really took part in representing how bio-luminescent works. I would love watching more experiments like these!

    Reply
  138. Colton Lindsey

    I liked the bright blue lights, they looked cool!

    Reply
  139. Ramla Mohamed

    This live experiment soo cool!!

    Reply
  140. Sarai Ponce

    This experiment had my mind blown! When I was in public school they never did anything like this.

    Reply
  141. Caleb L.

    how are the sensors going to be used in the real world?

    Reply
  142. caysen

    really cool video but it glowed blue

    Reply
  143. Max Pula

    robots will never have the same touch as us humans

    Reply
  144. Azilyn Bosch

    The last experiment was so cool! I’ve never seen anything like it!

    Reply
  145. sophie

    I learned about the chemicals poured together and it glowed! It was bright! This is my first Science live.

    Reply
  146. Elijah T.

    This would have been super fun to watch live.

    Reply
  147. Jean

    I’ve always been a big fan in bio-luminescent and always wanted to know how it worked. The firefly experiment helped with that, so I’m thanking Dr. Billings for that wonderful presentation. This is one of the many scientific experiments that had been added to my science knowledge. 😀😆

    Reply
  148. Ruth

    i find bio-luminescent things really cool and i would have loved to see it live

    Reply
  149. Ruth

    I find bio-luminescent things very cool and I found it very cool when it was poured into the spiral

    Reply
  150. Ruth

    I find Bio-luminescent stuff very cool and amazing and it was really awesome to see it going down the spiral

    Reply
  151. Elijah

    I Think That bio-luminescent things are really cool and i wish i could’ve seen this live

    Reply
  152. Libby

    I’ve always found Bio-luminescent stuff very interesting so i thought this episode was very cool! especially when the chemicals were poured down the spiral!

    Reply
  153. logan

    this firefly experiment is the best one yet truly a work of art keep up the good work guys. also there is one question i have: how IN THE WORLD do you get the stuff for this experiment cause i need it. thank you and goodnight/day 🙂 😉 :0

    Reply
  154. logan

    cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool i NEED to see this live

    Reply
  155. Briana

    This is my FAVORITE one! I remember when I watched this live. The glowing firefly experiment is so cool!

    Reply

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