Field notes

Firefly stories

Short, plain-language stories about fireflies — the species people are spotting, where to see them, why they glow, and what helps them survive.

How Fireflies Make Light Without Getting Hot

Learn the simple chemistry behind firefly flashes, how cold light works, and why glowing larvae hunt snails in your backyard.

  • bioluminescence
  • firefly-chemistry
  • glowworms
  • science-for-kids

Inside Tatsuno: Japan's Famous Firefly Festival

Learn how a Japanese town saved its water snails and built one of the world's most famous firefly festivals.

  • firefly festivals
  • tatsuno japan
  • genji firefly
  • citizen science
  • habitat protection