十万个为什么·科学启蒙30篇（1）
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How Do Fireflies Make Light Without Heat?
萤火虫是如何不发热地发光的？
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Fireflies produce light through a safe chemical reaction inside their bodies.
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A substance called luciferin reacts with oxygen and an enzyme named luciferase.
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This reaction releases energy almost entirely as visible light, not heat.
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Because little heat is made, scientists call it 'cold light' or bioluminescence.
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Each firefly species has its own flash pattern to attract mates at night.
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Temperature affects flash speed—warmer nights mean faster, brighter flashes.
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Some firefly larvae and deep-sea creatures also glow using similar chemistry.
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Researchers study firefly genes to develop safer medical imaging tools.
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Humans cannot make luciferin naturally, but we copy the process in labs.
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This natural light helps scientists track cell activity without harming living tissue.