transcript
Speaker 1:
[00:02] Attention, Smarty Parents and Smarty Pants, stay tuned for a special, exclusive, Smarty fan only discount on Podcast Camp, good for one week only. Listen close. Hey, Smarty Pants and Smarty families, guess what Who Smarted just did? Why, we helped launch 100 brand new super fun podcasts. That's right. And guess what? We didn't make any of them. Nope, they were all made by Smarty Pants just like you. At our Who Smarted Podcast Camp. Yep, at Who Smarted Podcast Camp, Smarty Pants learned everything they need to know to write, record, edit and post your very own podcast. Not only that, they learned real storytelling skills, got a behind the scenes look at how Who Smarted is made and actually interacted directly with me, the trusty narrator and my good pal, Chet Nickerson. And now you can do the same thing too. In fact, we've made Podcast Camp open enrollment, which means you can join anytime you want, start anytime you want and work at your own pace whenever you want to. Whether it takes you four weeks, four months or longer, everything you need is available to you at all times. And Chet and I will be there teaching, monitoring and supporting you every step of the way with videos, an active forum section and even live monthly Q&A sessions where you can ask us anything. And by signing up now, you get lifetime access to all of it. And look, it doesn't matter if you want to be a podcaster. Learning how to make a podcast provides real life communication and critical thinking skills you'll use the rest of your life. And take it from trustee, it's a whole lot of fun. Normally, pod camp is $97. But this week, it's just $77 when you use code CAMP20. Just go to whosmarted.com, click Podcast Camp, and use code CAMP20 at checkout for $20 off. That's C-A-M-P-20 at checkout for $20 off. Now, you don't have to start right away, but you'll get instant access so you can begin whenever you're ready. But the $77 deal is only good for one week, so take advantage of it now. Go to whosmarted.com and click Podcast Camp and use code CAMP20. But hurry, $20 off expires on Friday, April 24th. I cannot wait to see and hear what you create at PodCamp. And now, it's time for Who Smarted. Psst. Hey, Smarty Pants, trusty narrator here. Let me set the scene for you. It's a warm summer evening just about sunset. I'm hanging out in the backyard with some friends. We just had a barbecue where I ate entirely too much grilled meat. But that's not the part I want you to focus on. Instead, I want to describe something very cool that's happening right now. All around me, the air is filled with the glow of tiny, bright greenish yellow lights popping on and off. And these lights are moving all around the yard. Any guesses what's making these mysterious glowing mini lights? If you said fireflies or lightning bugs, you're right. But here's something you may not know. Even though the word fly appears in the name firefly, fireflies are definitely not flies. In fact, they belong to a special beetle group. No, not that beetle group. They're nocturnal members of a family of beetles known as Lampyridae. Smartie Pants, how many of you love to collect fireflies? Nice. Me too. When I was a kid, I would grab a clear jar and head out right around this time of night. My mom or dad would punch a few air holes in the lid of the jar so the fireflies could breathe. Then I would hold out my hand and wait for fireflies to land on me. And they would. They weren't scared of me, and I wasn't scared of them, unlike some other insects which I'd rather not have land on me. Shoo fly, shoo. Ah, a mosquito. Anyway, Smartie Pants, just talking to all you Smartie Pants about fireflies has inspired me to try and catch some. Okay, let's see if I can get one to land on me. Here comes one now, literally floating down to my hand. Hey there, little buddy, don't you look especially bright tonight?
Speaker 2:
[04:42] I would think so. All that rain we got this morning gave my belly a good cleaning. You wouldn't believe all the dust that's floating around out there dimming my lamp.
Speaker 1:
[04:51] Whoa, did you just start talking to me?
Speaker 2:
[04:53] You look surprised.
Speaker 1:
[04:54] You know, after 400 episodes of strange things talking to me, you'd think I'd be used to it by now, but it's always a little odd.
Speaker 2:
[05:02] Well, in real life, fireflies don't actually talk to humans. However, we do have ways of communicating with each other without using words. Lucky for you, I happen to be an interpreter for the you flighted nations. Think of me like an ambassador for my species, communicating with non-insects in order to keep the peace, if you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:
[05:23] Wow, it sounds like a very important position.
Speaker 2:
[05:26] It has its moments.
Speaker 1:
[05:27] Well, with your very made up qualifications, maybe you can help me, the trusty narrator and all the smarty pants listening, learn more about fireflies.
Speaker 2:
[05:36] Sure. What do you need to know?
Speaker 1:
[05:37] Well, for one thing, how are you able to glow? What is your glow used for? And is it true that fireflies are the most efficient emitters of light in the world?
Speaker 2:
[05:46] I get it. You want to know how and why my butt lights up. I tell you what, you don't put me in a jar and I'll answer your questions.
Speaker 1:
[05:55] You got a deal, firefly. I mean, ambassador firefly. Get ready for another whiff of science and history on Who Smarted?
Speaker 3:
[06:06] Who Smarted? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history?
Speaker 1:
[06:25] Okay, Ambassador, over the years, I've caught many a firefly in glass jars.
Speaker 3:
[06:30] Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:
[06:31] Which I always let go after a little while.
Speaker 2:
[06:33] That's better.
Speaker 1:
[06:34] Anyway, while I was looking at the color and shape of your beautiful wings, I couldn't help thinking that all fireflies seem to look the same.
Speaker 2:
[06:43] What are you getting at?
Speaker 1:
[06:44] I was just wondering if there are more than one type of firefly.
Speaker 2:
[06:48] Are you kidding?
Speaker 1:
[06:49] No, I don't think so.
Speaker 2:
[06:51] Are there more than one type of firefly? All fireflies look the same. Let me ask you something, narrator. How many different species of fireflies do you think there are worldwide?
Speaker 1:
[07:03] Usually, I ask the questions, but I can make an exception. Do I get multiple choices?
Speaker 2:
[07:09] Sure. Is it one? Is it 20? Is it 200? Or is it 2,000 species of fireflies around the world?
Speaker 1:
[07:19] What do you think, smarty pants? Something tells me the answer isn't one. I guess I'll go with 20. 200?
Speaker 2:
[07:27] Try 2,000.
Speaker 1:
[07:29] 2,000 species of fireflies?
Speaker 2:
[07:32] Wow!
Speaker 1:
[07:33] Who knew?
Speaker 2:
[07:34] I did. Listen, I've got relatives everywhere. Asia, South America, Africa, you name it. You'll find us anywhere there's a temperate or warm climate, and we especially love humid places with lots of moisture. The one thing fireflies do not like is cold weather. That's why you'll find us on every continent in the world, except one.
Speaker 1:
[07:59] Smartypants, do you know? Shout it out. Is everyone shouting Antarctica? Nice job. Also, I can certainly relate to not loving the cold. I do not want to be a frosty narrator. I didn't think it was that funny.
Speaker 2:
[08:15] It wasn't at all. I was laughing at something else.
Speaker 1:
[08:18] Oh.
Speaker 2:
[08:19] You see that green, slow, blinking light over by the pool?
Speaker 1:
[08:25] Yeah. Is that a friend of yours?
Speaker 2:
[08:26] Uh-huh. It's my older brother Tony, asking me if I'm all right.
Speaker 1:
[08:30] Ah, I guess with us humans being so much bigger, we could certainly be seen as a threat to fireflies, even when we're not trying to be.
Speaker 2:
[08:37] Unfortunately, yes. If you don't mind, trusty, I'm gonna sit on the edge of this tree branch sticking out over here.
Speaker 1:
[08:44] Was it my joke?
Speaker 2:
[08:46] Nah, it's just that humans excrete lots of sweat on humid nights like this and it attracts mosquitos we don't exactly get along with.
Speaker 1:
[08:54] I see. So your brother Tony was able to communicate with you just by alternating his glow.
Speaker 2:
[08:59] Exactly. Pretty cool, huh?
Speaker 1:
[09:02] Yeah, it's kind of like humans using a combination of Morse code or semaphore, which is a means of visual communication using lights or flags.
Speaker 2:
[09:12] Yeah, but ours is cooler because it comes from inside us.
Speaker 1:
[09:16] That is cooler. But how? How are fireflies able to glow? Smartypants, do you know? It has to do with something called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence refers to living organisms' ability to produce and emit light. Most bioluminescence occurs in or around the oceans, where the majority of bioluminescent creatures can be found. Jellyfish, plankton, and various bacteria are the most common examples of ocean-dwelling forms that can emit light. And the deeper down you go, the more bioluminescence you'll find.
Speaker 2:
[09:56] But on land, bioluminescence is pretty much only found in fireflies, glow worms, and some types of fungi.
Speaker 1:
[10:04] But how exactly do fireflies glow?
Speaker 2:
[10:09] That's the magic question.
Speaker 1:
[10:11] Which we'll answer right after this quick break. Attention, all non-mouth-breathers, this is a code red. I repeat, this is a code red, so listen very carefully. What I'm about to say will turn your world upside down. I'm transmitting to you from Hawkins, Indiana, to deliver this urgent message. Something survived in the winter of 85. So get ready for an all-new animated adventure from the creators of Stranger Things. Bundle up and join Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and all your most beloved characters as they uncovered new mysteries, new monsters, and their greatest adventure yet. You've seen them fight Demogorgon. You've seen them fight Vecna, but you've never seen anything like this. Return to Hawkins for a whole new dimension of the Stranger Things universe in this epic animated series. Friends don't lie, so believe the hype. Stranger Things, Tales from 85, only on Netflix. Over and out. Hey, Smarty Pants, quick shout out to our awesome sponsor, MelScience, helping kids turn curiosity into real experiments. MelScience is a subscription that delivers monthly science boxes right to your door. Each box is packed with hands-on experiments, so you're not just learning about science, you're doing it. And honestly, that's what Who Smarted is all about. Here's what I love. MelScience is on a mission to prove that science isn't boring, difficult, or just for certain people. Science is really about asking questions, experimenting, and discovering, which, let's be honest, smarty pants are already amazing at. Each kit comes with fun experiments, detailed explanations, and immersive tech to explore even deeper. It's like turning your kitchen table into a mini science lab. I think smarty families will love this because it takes that spark that kids already have from listening to Who Smarted and puts it right in their hands. Choose an annual plan and get a full year of science for just $22.45 a month. But hurry, this deal is only good through May 15th. Go to melscience.com and use code smarted to get started. That's melscience.com, code smarted. But hurry, this deal does expire on May 15th. Attention, smarty parents. Do you run your family off sticky notes, random texts, and crossed fingers? Then you need the Skylight calendar. It's a digital calendar that syncs with Google, Apple, Outlook, and more, becoming the central information hub for your family. Now, I love using the tasks feature on Who Smarted. It means no more, wait, what am I supposed to be doing? And for smarty pants, checking off their tasks makes it fun and rewarding to do chores like brushing teeth and homework. Skylight also simplifies grocery lists, meal planning, and never ending pick ups and drop offs. Skylight is so confident you'll love their calendar that they offer 100% money back, no questions asked for four full months. Families are better when they're working together. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15-inch calendars by going to myskylight.com/smarted. Go to myskylight.com/smarted for $30 off your 15-inch calendar. That is myskylight.com/smarted. Now back to Who Smarted. I'm here talking to a Firefly who happens to be a goodwill ambassador between Fireflies and trusty narrators slash Smarty Pets. And right now, he's about to let us in on the secret of how Fireflies are able to glow.
Speaker 2:
[14:02] It all has to do with chemicals inside our body called luciferins. When luciferins are mixed with oxygen and some ATP, which are energy molecules found in all life forms, they react together to form an enzyme called luciferous.
Speaker 1:
[14:19] Sounds complicated.
Speaker 2:
[14:21] Kind of, but it happens rather naturally. In fact, we don't have to do anything to make it happen. We're just born this way.
Speaker 1:
[14:29] Very cool.
Speaker 2:
[14:30] Each species of firefly has a unique pattern to the blinking light we give off. And did you know that we are considered the most efficient light source in the entire world?
Speaker 1:
[14:40] How's that?
Speaker 2:
[14:41] 100% of the energy that we produce is emitted as cold light.
Speaker 1:
[14:45] Hmm. Smarty pants. Do you know what cold light is? Yeah. Me neither.
Speaker 2:
[14:51] Think of it this way. When you turn on an incandescent or old-fashioned light bulb, only 10% of the energy being used by that bulb is light. The remaining 90% of the energy being used is heat.
Speaker 1:
[15:06] But we don't use light bulbs for heat, we use them for light. Which means they're not very energy efficient.
Speaker 2:
[15:13] Nope. But fireflies are. Wait a second. Trusty, I need to go check on my brother, Tony.
Speaker 1:
[15:20] Is everything all right? Your glow light is blinking off the charts. What's going on?
Speaker 2:
[15:25] Yeah, and so is Tony's. He's saying, there's a spider approaching from the tree above me.
Speaker 1:
[15:31] Yikes. I take it that's bad.
Speaker 2:
[15:33] It can be. Spiders are one of our most feared predators.
Speaker 1:
[15:38] But spiders can't fly. They can only jump. How can a spider get you if you're always flying around?
Speaker 2:
[15:44] Smartypants, what do you think? Well, here's a question for you. True or false? Fireflies are always flying around. Did you say false? If so, you're correct.
Speaker 1:
[15:58] Nice going, Smartypants.
Speaker 2:
[16:00] While it may appear that fireflies are always in flight, when the sun starts to set, there are times when we need to rest and sleep. And that's when spiders pounce.
Speaker 1:
[16:12] Gotcha. Which is why a firefly's ability to communicate danger signals is such a big defense mechanism.
Speaker 2:
[16:19] Exactly. And it's why my light started blinking like crazy. But now that I've been warned about the spider, I can avoid it. As you can see, my glow has returned to a much calmer pace.
Speaker 1:
[16:31] I see. Besides warning about danger, are there other things fireflies communicate through their glowing light? What's so funny now?
Speaker 2:
[16:40] See that blinking glow at two o'clock a few feet above where Chet Nickerson is sitting?
Speaker 3:
[16:45] Sure.
Speaker 1:
[16:46] I've noticed a firefly hovering there for a while. I assumed he just wanted to hear the latest breaking news.
Speaker 3:
[16:52] This is Chet Nickerson reporting. We will soon be making s'mores.
Speaker 2:
[16:57] No, it's my cousin Freddy and it's something else.
Speaker 1:
[17:01] Oh yeah? What?
Speaker 2:
[17:02] Well, the main reason fireflies put our bioluminescence to work is to attract a mate. It's kind of cool. Some fireflies can even synchronize their flashes in response. But most of the time, the males that are emitting a pattern while the females of the species hang out on the ground or in trees and wait for the one they like most.
Speaker 1:
[17:24] And then what happens?
Speaker 2:
[17:26] They'll send back a single flash if they're interested.
Speaker 1:
[17:29] Sort of like swiping right on a dating app.
Speaker 2:
[17:31] I don't know what that is.
Speaker 1:
[17:32] I'll tell you when you're older.
Speaker 2:
[17:34] Well, don't wait too long. Unfortunately, fireflies don't have the longest lifespans. We only live for about two months.
Speaker 1:
[17:42] Oh wow. That's not very long.
Speaker 2:
[17:44] Nope, which is why it's important for humans to respect our habitat whenever possible. The decrease in our population is mainly due to...
Speaker 1:
[17:52] Wait, Smarty Pants, what do you think is the main threat to firefly populations worldwide? Go ahead, call out your answers. I heard climate change, overdeveloped land, and pollution. All good reasons. Any others, Ambassador Firefly? Yep.
Speaker 2:
[18:13] Pesticides is a biggie. And believe it or not, consuming contaminated prey.
Speaker 1:
[18:21] That sounds horrible.
Speaker 2:
[18:23] Indeed. Oh, and there's one other thing you shouldn't do to fireflies. Ahem.
Speaker 1:
[18:29] Oh, right. Smarty Pants, remember when I said I used to catch fireflies and keep them in a glass jar? Well, that's okay for a very short while, like 10 or 20 minutes, but be sure to release them back into the wild soon after.
Speaker 2:
[18:43] Thank you. Fireflies are definitely not cut out to be pets.
Speaker 3:
[18:47] Ruck, ruck, meow.
Speaker 1:
[18:49] Uh-oh, your light is blinking a lot again. More danger?
Speaker 2:
[18:52] Um, actually, there's a firefly I've been hoping to talk to.
Speaker 1:
[18:56] Oh, I see. Well, good luck. In the meantime, I better get back to my friends. Plus, I don't want to miss out on the s'mores.
Speaker 3:
[19:04] Ah, too late, trusty. They're all gone. I tried using my flashlight to signal you, but you didn't seem to notice it.
Speaker 1:
[19:16] A glowing shout out to Grant in Kansas. I'm so glad you love smarting with us in the car, and that you and your family are absolutely obsessed with Who Smarted. Well, I'm happy to be part of your family's listening, laughing, and learning time. This episode, Fireflies, was written by Dave Davis, and voiced by Jason Williams, Adam Tex Davis, and Jerry Kolber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamaski. The theme song is by Brian Suarez, with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Kolber. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Who Smarted?