University of Colorado at Boulder
In the middle of the old-growth forests of Congaree National Park in South Carolina, fireflies put on an other-worldly display every May. Thousands of male insects belonging to the species Photuris frontalis flash together at the same time and follow the exact same pattern—a synchronous light show you can see only in few places in the United States.
Scientists and nature lovers have long been fascinated by how such simple insects can work together in perfect harmony.
In a new study, engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder have uncovered the mathematical rules fireflies follow to sync up their flashes…