The magic — and science — of synchronous fireflies
5/25/202613 min
Every year for two weeks between mid-May and mid-June, Congaree National Park in South Carolina is home to a fairy-tale-like display of flashing lights. These rhythmic performances happen all because of thousands of fireflies, flashing their belly lanterns at exactly the same time. According to the National Park Service, there are just three species of these synchronous fireflies in North America, making the experience all the more magical for the lucky visitors who get the chance to see them. (encore)
This story was originally reported for NPR by science correspondent Pien Huang. Read Pien's full story here.
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Today's episode was produced by Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Berly McCoy. Pien checked the facts. Kwesi Lee was the audio engineer.
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Regina Barber· Host0:16
You're listening to Short Wave from NPR. Hey, Short Wave, it's Regina Barber here, and a few weeks ago, I went on a wild nighttime ride. We're in this, like, cart that this lady is biking us around with a dog- [laughs] Yeah ... and hunting for bugs. Friend of the show and wonderful beloved reporter Ping Wang was there.
Ping Huang0:41
We are loaded up here in the, in the cargo wagon.
Regina Barber· Host0:45
Cargo bike.
Ping Huang0:46
Cargo bike. And we are very tightly pushed in, and Ping is a patient, patient woman. [laughs] And she has a dog, um, on one side of her and me smooshing her on the other side.
Regina Barber· Host0:59
It was a tight fit.
Ping Huang1:01
It was. I felt terrible, Ping. [laughs] 'Cause you had organized this trip to see something very specific and very special. It's true, Gina. We were out on a bike trail at 9:00 PM on a weekday for a reason, and even though there were cars zooming past us, planes flying overhead, the conditions were actually totally perfect.
Regina Barber· Host1:23
They were magical. Like, I'm looking out into the marsh, and I'm seeing all these, like, the darkness and bushes, but, and then you just see,