What makes fireflies glow?

Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex series of chemical reactions involving specific molecules like luciferin and enzymes like luciferase. The discussion extends to how these mechanisms find applications in scientific research, such as identifying tumors in mice. The episode is interspersed with nostalgic summer stories, making it a blend of chemistry education and personal anecdotes.

00:00 Nostalgic Summer Evenings

00:33 Fireflies and Childhood Wonder

01:04 Introduction to Firefly Chemistry

02:22 Shoutout to Ash and Podcast Tips

03:58 Diving into Bioluminescence

04:52 The Chemistry Behind Firefly Light

11:17 Understanding Acid-Base Reactions

16:13 The Role of Luciferase

18:43 The Unstable Four-Membered Ring

28:39 Understanding Molecular Structures

29:33 The Instability of Molecular Rings

33:39 Fireflies and Bioluminescence

40:53 Applications in Medical Science

45:37 Nostalgic Summer Memories

52:48 Supporting the Show and Final Thoughts

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References from this episode:

1. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/luciferin/3005839.article


2. https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-chemistry-behind-how-fireflies-glow


3. https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.258103


4. https://youtu.be/pTPMwZK2-yM


5. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5b03820


6. https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1021/jp301910p


7. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cphc.201300330


8. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cphc.201200195


9. https://iubmb-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/iub.134


10. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cbic.200500443


11. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/rainbow-makers/3003381.article


12. https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/f/firefly-luciferin.html

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