# Glow Little Glowworm...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glow-little-glowworm/323203>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 24, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glow-little-glowworm/323203 "2005-09-24T13:42:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glow-little-glowworm/323203/1 "2005-09-24T13:42:33Z")

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The Magic of Glowsticks: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_397c.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_397c.html)

It is very interesting how Uncle Cecil states that the chemistry of the glowstick is the same (or highly similar) to the lightning bug. However, I understand there is other chemistry in play that allows the lightning to turn off its light AND reuse.

Last I read, we do not know how the lightning bug can do this. Do we still not know? Is it an American Cyanimde secret? Or, is it simply a chemical reaction that can easily be reversed? - Jinx

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glow-little-glowworm/323203/2 "2005-09-24T14:35:46Z")

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Google, “how lightning bugs work”, Hit #1.

> **[How do fireflies light up?](https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/question554.htm)**
>
> When flickering fireflies light up the summer night, they’re not showing off – they’re talking to each other. How do these insects make their abdomens glow?