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Article: It's chemical combustion when fireflies get that glow.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- June 19, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Why do fireflies glow?
It's magic. More accurately, it's chemical-reaction magic. Here's a simplified rundown on what happens:
Inside the firefly's belly are some special cells that contain two chemicals: luciferin and luciferase, reportedly named for the fallen angel of light, Lucifer.
When the firefly pushes oxygen into these special cells, the oxygen and chemicals combine with two other chemicals: magnesium and adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. (Human bodies turn most of what we eat into ATP, a compound that all living plants and animals use as energy in their cells.)
OK _ you still with me?
Now, when the ...
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...Tallahassee Democrat, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business ... To see more of the Tallahassee Democrat, or to subscribe ... com (c) 2002, Tallahassee Democrat, Fla. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business ...
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