# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Stacie. Stacie Wonders, " siphons " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Stacie!

Have you ever tried to empty a large container of liquid? For example, let's say you have an above-ground . When autumn arrives and the leaves begin to fall, it's probably time to empty the to prepare it for winter.

If the doesn't have a , you may be forced to rely on buckets to empty it. Or, you could simply rely on science and siphon the water out! If you've ever used a siphon, you already know that all you need is a simple garden and a little time and soon that will be empty.

How does it work? All you need to do is put one end of the in the and the other end outside the , below the of the water in the and in an area where you want the water to .

You could use your mouth to suck water through the to get the of water started, or you could use a small . Either way, once the siphon begins to work, it'll continue to the water from the until the water is gone or the end of the is lifted above the water to stop the siphon.

Historians have traced the use of siphons back to ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians used siphons in agriculture to transfer water from canals to irrigation channels. Today's cotton farmers still use siphons in a similar way to help irrigate their crops.

Ancient Egyptians (along with people today) also used siphons in the winemaking process. Siphons helped them transfer wine from a large container to smaller containers. Placing the siphon in the middle of the container allowed them to increase the wine's by avoiding particles that floated at the top or sunk to the bottom of the container.

The first time you use a siphon, it may seem like magic. However, it's simply the principles of science at work. Exactly what principles are at work, though, is still a matter of debate. Even though siphons have been used for thousands of years, modern scientists are still arguing about exactly which forces make siphons work.

For much of scientific history, scientists have believed that siphons work because of the of atmospheric . A basic siphon consists of a tube in a larger container that goes up over a hump (the edge of the container) to empty out into a container at a lower .

When liquid is sucked through the tube over the hump and begins to empty into the other container, a decrease in atmospheric is caused at the highest point in the tube (where it passes over the hump). This decrease results in the atmospheric on the surface of the liquid pushing liquid up into the tube toward the area of lower .

While the atmospheric theory seems to make sense, some scientists noted that it requires the presence of air. When tested in a , a siphon still worked, so it seemed that some other must also be at work.

More recently, scientists who have studied siphons have theorized that the key is gravity. When liquid is sucked up the tube and over the hump, the of gravity continues to pull the liquid through the tube. This theory relies upon liquid cohesion, which means a continuous chain of bonds must exist in the liquid.

Some scientists refer to this as the chain model, because you can think of the water like a chain being pulled through the tube instead of a liquid. When you begin to pull the chain through the tube and over the hump, gravity will take over and continue to pull the entire length of the chain through the tube.

Unfortunately, most liquids don't necessarily have strong bonds to make them act this way. Other scientists have created flying droplet siphons and carbon dioxide gas siphons that feature gas bubbles that exist between liquid molecules.

It may be the case that atmospheric , gravity, and liquid cohesion all work together to make siphons work the way they do. Scientists will continue to study siphons to figure out once and for all how they work. Maybe you could grow up to be the scientist who solves the mystery!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Stacie. Stacie Wonders, " siphons " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Stacie! Have you ever tried to empty a large container of liquid? For example, let's say you have an above-ground . When autumn arrives and the leaves begin to fall, it's probably time to empty the to prepare it for winter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Grace from Jones, OK. Grace Wonders, " How does yeast work? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Grace!

When you think of , what comes to mind? Soft, fluffy slices that wrap perfectly around peanut butter and jelly? Warm dinner rolls covered in butter? A fermenting and creating gas and other by-products?

The first two suggestions might have come to mind, but we doubt that many of you think of a when you hear the word "." Without millions and millions of fungi, though, bakers would never be able to create the delicious breads we love to eat.

It's true! If you've ever baked at home, you know that one thing required is . After you mix all the ingredients together, you have to wait for a while for the to before you can it into yummy . Why do you have to wait? What's going on that causes the to puff up and ?

The answers to these questions all revolve around one key ingredient: . You've probably heard of , but you might not know exactly what is. If you've baked at home before, you probably know that often comes in small packets you can buy at the grocery store.

Those little packets of are filled with billions of single-celled fungi that scientists call Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ("-eating "). That's right! One of the key ingredients in most types of is a !

Before you say "Ewww!" though, remember that fungi can be very helpful, as well as tasty. Those mushrooms on your pizza? Those are fungi! Also, some of your favorite cheeses are ripened with the help of certain molds.

cells that come in those little packets from the grocery store are living organisms. When packaged, they just happen to be in a state, which means they're inactive. Just add them to some warm water, though, and they come alive!

In , the cells mix with warm water and begin to feed on sugars, such as , , , or , which come from the and flour in the . As cells feed on sugars, they produce carbon dioxide gas and ethyl alcohol in a chemical process known as fermentation .

The carbon dioxide gas released by the process of fermentation gets trapped in the sticky, elastic , causing it to "puff up" or . This can take a while, though, which is why you need when you're baking ! Likewise, the ethyl alcohol produced gives the its unique smell and taste.

Heat can speed up the process of fermentation , which explains why continues to in the first few minutes of baking in the . Once the gets too hot, though, the cells will die. The pockets of carbon dioxide gas left behind leaves tiny holes all throughout the , giving it its unique and softness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Does Dough Puff Up When You Bake It?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Grace from Jones, OK. Grace Wonders, " How does yeast work? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Grace! When you think of , what comes to mind? Soft, fluffy slices that wrap perfectly around peanut butter and jelly? Warm dinner rolls covered in butter?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you ever been cleaning out the garage or the basement when a hard-shelled bug crawled out from under something and scared you? You might have shouted, "Eek!" or "Yikes!" or even "Ewww!"

Today in Wonderopolis we're going to be taking a closer look at one of the most hated of all creepy crawlies: the . Although this is often seen as a dirty, -carrying , you'll soon learn there are a lot of myths out there about the .

The comes in an amazing number of different types. Scientists believe there are over 4,500 different of around the world. Of those thousands of , only about 30 of them have been associated with human habitats and only about four of them are true pests.

Here are the common and scientific names of a few of the best-known of cockroaches:

Although most cockroaches are not true pests, some have been known to carry the germs that cause tuberculosis , , , salmonella , and a whole host of other diseases. This is why many people believe cockroaches are dirty and potentially dangerous. In reality, though, most of the thousands of of cockroaches live in areas far away from humans.

Scientists believe that cockroaches have lived on Earth about 100 times longer than human beings have. They are known for being and insects that can withstand all sorts of adverse conditions. Some people believe cockroaches could even a !

So how are they? Would you believe that some of cockroaches can for several weeks without their heads? It's true! Cockroaches do not bleed like human beings do, and they can breathe through most of the parts of their bodies. So if a gets accidentally decapitated, its body can often another few weeks without its head!

Why are cockroaches that are pests so hard to control? One reason is that they'll eat just about anything - from glue and soap to books and hair. Moreover, one tiny meal can satisfy a for up to six weeks. Can you imagine going that long without food? Cockroaches can go so long between meals because special that live in their cells produce all the vitamins and amino acids they need to live.

Cockroaches are so resilient that they've been known to go without air for up to 45 minutes. Some cockroaches can even recover from being held underwater for 30 minutes or more. But could they really a ?

No one knows for sure, and we hope we never find out! Cockroaches do have a much higher resistance to than human beings, but they're not necessarily any more immune to than other insects.

If you find you have cockroaches around the house, it is best to get rid of them. As you've learned they can for a very long time with very little food - and what they consider food can be just about anything. Given that they can carry and scientists have linked them to increased chances of reactions and , it's best to keep them out in the wild where they belong!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Could a Cockroach Survive a Nuclear War?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Have you ever been cleaning out the garage or the basement when a hard-shelled bug crawled out from under something and scared you? You might have shouted, "Eek!" or "Yikes!" or even "Ewww!" Today in Wonderopolis we're going to be taking a closer look at one of the most hated of all creepy crawlies: the .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The answers to these questions depend, in part, on exactly which you're talking about. That name is often used to describe several different creatures. For example, it may be used to describe the long-legged crane fly, which is an , or long-legged spiders, which are true spiders.

Harvestmen are arachnids, but not spiders. They have eight legs and look a bit like spiders, but there are several key differences. For example, harvestmen have one body section and two eyes, while most spiders have two body sections and eight eyes.

Harvestmen also don't produce silk and don't have venom. Thus, that old myth about being the most creature on Earth is just that: a myth. Even if you call a harvestman a , there's no proof that its venom is especially toxic to humans.

The long legs of most harvestmen are very important to them. Harvestmen sense the world around them with their legs, like we do with our ears, nose, tongue and skin. If you try to capture a harvestman, one or more of its legs might fall off. Although losing its legs might help a harvestman escape a predator, it seriously hurts its ability to sense the world around it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The answers to these questions depend, in part, on exactly which you're talking about. That name is often used to describe several different creatures. For example, it may be used to describe the long-legged crane fly, which is an , or long-legged spiders, which are true spiders. Harvestmen are arachnids, but not spiders.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you ever seen a Rube Goldberg in action? You probably have, even if you didn't know what it was. A Rube Goldberg is a contraption that uses a chain reaction to carry out a task. It performs a very basic job in a complicated way.

Let's look at an example. We'll describe a Rube Goldberg that wipes a person's chin with a napkin. That's a pretty task, right? Well, wait until you hear how the does it!

First, a person picks up a soup spoon. This action pulls a string. That jerks a ladle, which throws a cracker, which shoots past a parrot. The parrot jumps for the cracker, and its perch tilts and drops seeds. The seeds land in a pail. The extra weight in the pail pulls a cord which opens and lights an automatic cigar lighter. This sets off a rocket that causes a sickle to cut a string. This allows a pendulum with a napkin attached to it to swing back and forth to wipe the chin.

Whew! Did you follow that of events? Why on Earth would someone invent such a ? To answer that question, we must take a closer look at Rube Goldberg.

Reuben Lucius "Rube" Goldberg was born on July 4, 1883, in San Francisco, California. As a teen, he loved to draw. He even received some basic art instruction when he worked with a sign painter. Still, he chose not to pursue a career in art. Instead, he went to the University of California at Berkeley. There, he earned his degree in mining engineering.

Goldberg went to work mapping out sewer pipes and water mains in San Francisco. That didn't hold his interest for long. He began drawing cartoons for local San Francisco papers. Then, he moved to New York where he landed a job as a cartoonist for the Evening Mail.

He used his engineering background to create funny cartoons. They featured complicated machines that were described as new inventions. They did easy tasks through a of steps involving chain reactions. The public quickly fell in love with Rube's "inventions."

His work became popular nationwide. The art world also loved his works. Some of them were soon displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Rube eventually even made it to Hollywood. There, his movie script "Soup to Nuts" introduced a trio who would soon become famous as the Three Stooges.

In 1931, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary added "Rube Goldberg" as an adjective. It meant " accomplishing by means what seemingly could be done simply." For Goldberg, his inventions were a way of seeing the humor in everyday situations. He loved that his work made people laugh.

Over time, the cartoon inventions leapt off the pages and became real-life working machines. They were built purely for the joy of engineering and watching science in action. Goldberg's work has inspired millions. People love building their own machines to carry out , tasks.

Today, people even hold Rube Goldberg contests. In 1987, the Phi Chapter of Theta Tau, a national engineering fraternity, started the annual National Rube Goldberg Contest at Purdue University.

Each year, groups compete to make the most elaborate, creative contraptions. How do they get? Very! For example, a Purdue University team once won the competition with a that turned on a flashlight. It used a 125-step process that included a toy rocket, a simulated meteor, and a mock fire!

Have you ever built a Rube Goldberg ? Would you like to? What task might you carry out through a complicated process? Maybe you'll build the next award-winning contraption !

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Machines are meant to make our lives simpler, right? Not always! Wonderopolis takes a closer look at some interesting and complex contraptions today!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Would you like to hear a joke? Okay, here it is: Why can't penguins fly?

Any ideas?

It's because they don't have enough money to buy plane tickets!

Okay, so that's an old joke, but we still like it! And it made us WONDER...why can't penguins fly? After all, they are birds, aren't they?

Yes, penguins are , flightless birds that live in the Southern Hemisphere --especially Antarctica. Unlike the wings of other birds, penguins' wings are more like that make them well- for life in the water.

In fact, penguins swimming through water looks quite similar to birds flying through the sky. Their feathers trap air, which makes them more in the water and them from the cold water.

Penguins spend about half their time in the water and half their time on land. And their don't just help them swim! When they're on land, their and their tails help them keep their and walk .

Have you ever seen a penguin walk? Their walk looks more like a waddle, and they don't move very fast. If a penguin wants to move quickly, it slides on its belly! This is a movement called " tobogganing " after a northern method of sledding.

Okay, so a penguin's help them a lot. Still, why can't they fly? Scientists believe penguins can't fly because they likely had little or no threat from predators in their past. That means they never evolved to fly because they didn't have anything to fly away from. Instead, these birds evolved to become more to better survive in their habitat. They relied on the oceans for food, so developing to swim well was more important than growing wings to fly.

As they exist today, it's easy to see why penguins can't fly. Their , adapted for life in the water, simply cannot get their cute, chunky bodies into the sky. This is especially true for the largest species of penguin, the Emperor Penguin. Emperor Penguins stand over three feet tall and can weigh 75 pounds or more. They'd need some pretty strong wings to fly through the air!

It's easy to see why penguins would choose advanced swimming ability over flying. How about you? Would you rather glide gracefully through water or through the air? There are definitely advantages to both, as we can see from all our bird friends!

NGSS.LS1.A, NGSS.LS4.B, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.3, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.SL.2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Would you like to hear a joke? Okay, here it is: Why can't penguins fly? Any ideas? It's because they don't have enough money to buy plane tickets! Okay, so that's an old joke, but we still like it! And it made us WONDER...why can't penguins fly?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's Wonder of the Day may sound a bit like it stepped right out of the pages of a Harry Potter book. Turning into ? Does anyone believe that could really happen? Wouldn't that require ?

Some of the world's most famous scientists did indeed believe could be turned into , and several of them tried desperately to make it happen for hundreds of years. Long before much of modern science became known, many early scientists were fascinated by a called .

was a secret and mysterious that reflected a very different from our modern view of science. The metals we know today as individual elements were believed by alchemists to be alive and growing underground. Metals like and were thought to be merely immature and undeveloped "early" versions of precious metals, like silver and .

Alchemists believed they could base metals into precious metals if they could just find the substance they called philosopher's stone. The philosopher's stone they searched for wasn't an actual rock. Instead, it was supposedly a magical , liquid, or that could heal ailments and prolong life, as well as change base metals into precious metals.

Knowing what we do today about science, sounds crazy, doesn't it? After all, it's no surprise that alchemists ultimately failed in their quest, since the very idea of contradicts the basic laws of chemistry and physics. Rather than the atoms and elements we know today, alchemists believed everything in the world was made up of four elements: air, earth, , and water.

We now know that air, earth, , and water are not actual elements. Therefore, it's not possible to adjust the percentages of those elements within to turn it into . Despite the utter failure of to transform into , it wasn't a completely worthless . Scientists and historians now credit ancient alchemists for developing the groundwork for what would become modern chemistry.

In fact, you're probably already familiar with one of the more famous alchemists from ancient history. Ever heard of a guy named Sir Isaac Newton? That's right! Sir Isaac Newton, the guy who invented calculus and is considered the father of modern physics, was a devoted alchemist who believed at one time that he had discovered the philosopher's stone.

Newton's dedication to has made modern scientists reconsider its importance in the history of the development of modern science. Many experts now agree that was an important natural step in laying the foundation for modern science. Instead of superstitious witchcraft, is now often seen as an ancient of early scientists trying to make sense of the world around them.

Other experts point out the many scientific advancements that can be traced back to . For example, alchemists created new alloys and manufactured acids and pigments for the first time. They also invented distillation apparatuses and conceived of atoms hundreds of years before modern atomic theory. Perhaps most importantly, though, they helped to forge the basis for the modern scientific method by repeating controlled experiments over and over.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today's Wonder of the Day may sound a bit like it stepped right out of the pages of a Harry Potter book. Turning into ? Does anyone believe that could really happen? Wouldn't that require ?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Boom! Did you hear that ? It sounded like a thousand sticks of blowing up at once. Can you imagine what that might look and sound like?

If you're a fan of cartoons, you may have seen Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner playing with from time to time. Isn't it amazing how they never seem to get hurt? Of course, unlike in cartoons, real is a powerful explosive that can be very damaging.

was invented in 1867 by Alfred Nobel. If you're wondering, yes, it's the same Alfred Nobel who started and funded the Nobel Prizes for scientific and achievements. His invention of made him very wealthy, which allowed him to fund what have become some of the most prestigious awards in the world.

Before , the strongest explosive was gunpowder. Unfortunately, it wasn't strong enough for many needs and it also was dangerous to handle. solved these problems by being both much stronger and much safer to handle.

was used then - and still is today - in the construction , mining, and demolition industries. It also was used initially as a military weapon, although other weapons soon made .

Nobel's invention made the nitroglycerin safer to handle. He did this by soaking it into a soft, chalky stone called diatomaceous earth . Today, diatomaceous earth is also often used to make cat litter.

When soaked in diatomaceous earth , the nitroglycerin was much harder to set off and thus safer to handle. Later on, other substances, such as sawdust and cellulose, were often substituted for diatomaceous earth .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Boom! Did you hear that ? It sounded like a thousand sticks of blowing up at once. Can you imagine what that might look and sound like? If you're a fan of cartoons, you may have seen Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner playing with from time to time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When it comes to getting along, sometimes people are just like two peas in a pod. That means they hang out and get along together just fine. Other people might get along like cats and dogs. If you've ever seen a dog chase a cat, then you know they don't always get along very well. Cats and dogs are like oil and water: they simply don't mix!

But why don't oil and water mix? Did oil and water have a big fight thousands of years ago that caused them to hate each other forever? No, as far as we know, oil and water have never had a big fight. They just don't mix. Are you ready to get to the bottom of this mystery?

Water molecules are molecules. That means one end of the has a positive and the other end has a negative . This allows water molecules to together. Oil molecules, on the other hand, are non-.

Have you ever salt in water? How about sugar or coffee grounds? These things mix easily with water because they also have molecules. They're able to with the water molecules.

However, non- molecules only mix well with other non- molecules. This explains why oil doesn't mix well with water. Their molecules aren't able to .

So what happens when you try to mix oil and water? The water molecules each other, and the oil molecules stick together. That causes oil and water to form two separate layers. Water molecules pack closer together, so they sink to the bottom, leaving oil sitting on top of the water.

Have you ever shaken a bottle that contained both oil and water? If so, you know that the two did mix for a short time. That's because you caused . You forced the liquids to mix with each other. However, that mixing doesn't last long! If you look at the bottle again after a minute or so, you'll see that the water and oil have separated once again.

You can get oil and water to mix together for longer periods. You just have to add an emulsifier . That's a with one end that has one end and one non- end. Egg yolks are common emulsifiers. So is soap! It attracts oil on one end and water on the other. That's what it does when it cleans your hands!

The next time you're in a restaurant, look for a container of oil and vinegar dressing sitting on the table. Is all the oil at the top? That's because the vinegar is mixed with water. Give it a good shake and watch what happens!

NGSS.PS1.A, NGSS.PS1.B, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When it comes to getting along, sometimes people are just like two peas in a pod. That means they hang out and get along together just fine. Other people might get along like cats and dogs. If you've ever seen a dog chase a cat, then you know they don't always get along very well.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Hayleigh. Hayleigh Wonders, " How do things glow in the dark? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Hayleigh!

Are you afraid of the dark? It's OK to be a bit scared of things that go bump in the night. But what about things that glow at night?

You've probably seen or played with glow-in-the-dark toys before. From yo-yos and balls to stickers and stars, glow-in-the-dark toys can turn any dark room into a magical world of adventure!

Have you ever WONDERed how these things glow in the dark? Guess what? It's not magic! It's just plain and simple science.

Glowing in the dark - also known as luminescence - simply requires chemicals that store energy when exposed to light. These special substances are called . This type of glowing is sometimes called phosphorescence .

visible light after being . This means you have to expose the items to light for a while before they will glow in the dark.

then slowly release their stored energy over time. As they release the energy, they emit small amounts of light, which we see as an object glowing.

Sometimes glow-in-the-dark objects will only glow very weakly for a short time. Often, you have to place them in a very dark place to see their faint green glow. Newer glow-in-the-dark items may glow more brightly for several hours.

Over the years, chemists have created thousands of chemical compounds that act as . For glow-in-the-dark toys, manufacturers look for that can be by normal light and that glow as long as possible.

To make glow-in-the-dark toys, manufacturers mix their chosen phosphor into plastic and then mold it to the desired shape. Two of the most common found in glow-in-the-dark toys are and .

There are a couple of other types of luminescence . Chemiluminescence , for example, makes object glow in the dark because of a chemical reaction. When two particular chemicals react, they produce energy that is subsequently released, creating a glow. This is what happens in glow sticks.

Radioluminescence uses that are constantly charged by adding a radioactive element, such as radium, to them. You may have seen this type of luminescence on the hands of a watch, for example.

One final example from nature is bioluminescence . Some creatures, such as fireflies and jellyfish, contain chemicals within them that cause them to glow. Some of these creatures glow for protection, camouflage or to attract mates.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Hayleigh. Hayleigh Wonders, " How do things glow in the dark? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Hayleigh! Are you afraid of the dark? It's OK to be a bit scared of things that go bump in the night.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In the summer, have you seen lights in the night sky? We're not talking about stars, or even the Northern Lights. Instead, we're talking about fireflies.

Fireflies are sometimes called lightning bugs. They are known for their glow power, but they're not alone. There are also deep-water fish and even that produce their own light. The fancy word for this is " bioluminescence ."

Fireflies never need to worry about changing a light bulb or paying the electric bill. Their light source comes from inside! A chemical change makes each blip of light. The reaction occurs between a called luciferase , a called , and oxygen. When they combine, the glows!

Most bioluminescent creatures glow all the time, like a light bulb with no off switch. What makes fireflies unique is how they turn their lights on and off. Researchers believe fireflies turn on their lights by sending signals from their brains to special light organs in their abdomens. Their is where the light-producing chemical reaction takes place.

So why do fireflies spend so much time flipping the lights on and off? Fireflies are born knowing how to glow as larvae. Some people call them "glow worms."

Science believes bioluminescence serves a different purpose for larvae than it does for adult fireflies. The larvae contain chemicals that are yucky or even toxic to other creatures. As little worms, the light is more of a warning that alerts anything on the hunt for a snack that they should stay away.

For adult fireflies, science believes bioluminescence serves two purposes: to find a mate and to lure . Lightning bug blips happen in the blink of an eye. While we can't tell the difference, female lightning bugs know what they're looking for.

Research has found that female lightning bugs prefer "flashy" males. Some females prefer to mate with males that have the longest flash, while others prefer males that flash the fastest.

Scientists study the lightning bug's glow-power. They have found ways to use luciferase . By putting this light-making gene into the cells of other animals, they can watch what happens.

This is an exciting discovery for the world of medicine. With more research, we might be able to make cancer cells glow so researchers can easily track and kill them.

science also uses luciferase . Investigators sometimes use a weak solution that has this enzyme. When used at a crime scene, it can reveal tiny bits of blood the human eye might not see. That means fireflies can help solve a mystery!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the summer, have you seen lights in the night sky? We're not talking about stars, or even the Northern Lights. Instead, we're talking about fireflies. Fireflies are sometimes called lightning bugs. They are known for their glow power, but they're not alone. There are also deep-water fish and even that produce their own light.