Comments on: Fireflies: The Invertebrate Opera http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/ A blog about life, past and future. Written by DISCOVER contributing editor and columnist Carl Zimmer. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:08:33 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: The Ocean’s Skin of Jelly | The Loom | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19969 The Ocean’s Skin of Jelly | The Loom | Discover Magazine Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:49:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19969 [...] of stories in which I look at the familiar and find it deeply strange. The previous one was about fireflies. Tomorrow’s story is about the surface of the ocean. It turns out to be a deeply weird [...] [...] of stories in which I look at the familiar and find it deeply strange. The previous one was about fireflies. Tomorrow’s story is about the surface of the ocean. It turns out to be a deeply weird [...]

]]> By: ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science : blogcable http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19825 ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science : blogcable Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:27:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19825 [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...] [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...]

]]> By: ScienceBlogs Channel : Technology : blogcable http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19824 ScienceBlogs Channel : Technology : blogcable Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:26:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19824 [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...] [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...]

]]> By: ScienceBlogs Channel : Technology : Blogcable.com http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19820 ScienceBlogs Channel : Technology : Blogcable.com Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:57:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19820 [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...] [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...]

]]> By: ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science : Blogcable.com http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19819 ScienceBlogs Channel : Life Science : Blogcable.com Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:56:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19819 [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...] [...] living creatures, including fireflies, jellyfish, squid, glow-worms and deep-sea fish, are known for producing their own light often [...]

]]> By: Music From Science (Writing) | The Loom | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19801 Music From Science (Writing) | The Loom | Discover Magazine Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:47:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19801 [...] is a song by Christine Lavin inspired by my recent firefly story. It is available for two days on her web site (and will resurface this fall on her next [...] [...] is a song by Christine Lavin inspired by my recent firefly story. It is available for two days on her web site (and will resurface this fall on her next [...]

]]> By: A Lot Of Things Happen While You’re Riding A Swan Boat | The Loom | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19797 A Lot Of Things Happen While You’re Riding A Swan Boat | The Loom | Discover Magazine Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:42:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19797 [...] Firefly Folk: Last month I wrote a piece about sex and death among fireflies in the New York Times. I got an email from the folksinger Christine Lavin, explaining how the [...] [...] Firefly Folk: Last month I wrote a piece about sex and death among fireflies in the New York Times. I got an email from the folksinger Christine Lavin, explaining how the [...]

]]> By: Chris Harvan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19641 Chris Harvan Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:53:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19641 Your timing on this article couldn't be any better and I greatly appreciate it. My company, StoneGears has just released an iPhone App specifically to attract and communicate with fireflies. This info is going to help shape our next version. Please feel free to get in touch! Your timing on this article couldn’t be any better and I greatly appreciate it. My company, StoneGears has just released an iPhone App specifically to attract and communicate with fireflies. This info is going to help shape our next version. Please feel free to get in touch!

]]> By: Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19624 Martin Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:35:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19624 When I mentioned this article to my wife, she instantly came back with (apologies to The Doors): C'mon baby, light my ass C'mon baby, light my ass Let's roll around in the grass C'mon baby, light my ass I'll never look at fireflies the same way again. Thanks for the article, well-written as always. When I mentioned this article to my wife, she instantly came back with (apologies to The Doors):

C’mon baby, light my ass
C’mon baby, light my ass
Let’s roll around in the grass
C’mon baby, light my ass

I’ll never look at fireflies the same way again.
Thanks for the article, well-written as always.

]]> By: Brian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19601 Brian Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:42:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19601 Some years ago I was in Costa Rica and I was fooling around near dusk with a camera. There were fireflies in the area and I was trying to get a flash picture of one (it being too dark to get a shot otherwise). The fireflies were of course advertising their presence, so at least they were easy to find. After a few problematic shots (it's nearly impossible to frame a shot in twilight), I had a crazy idea. My flash charge indicator was a 2-stage affair, and when charging it was the same colour that the fireflies were flashing. So I turned the camera around and showed a firefly my LED. Well! The poor firefly was beside himself (herself?)! I could hardly see a thing, but my hand was on the flash and the firefly was all over that flash unit. It was like being attacked by a butterfly. No danger for me, and I'm a tiny bit worried for the firefly. I had always assumed the the LED colour was the sole attractant. However your article indicates that I must have hit upon a compatible blink interval too. That was a complete fluke because there's no way for the camera operator to control that. Some years ago I was in Costa Rica and I was fooling around near dusk with a camera. There were fireflies in the area and I was trying to get a flash picture of one (it being too dark to get a shot otherwise). The fireflies were of course advertising their presence, so at least they were easy to find.

After a few problematic shots (it’s nearly impossible to frame a shot in twilight), I had a crazy idea. My flash charge indicator was a 2-stage affair, and when charging it was the same colour that the fireflies were flashing. So I turned the camera around and showed a firefly my LED.

Well! The poor firefly was beside himself (herself?)! I could hardly see a thing, but my hand was on the flash and the firefly was all over that flash unit. It was like being attacked by a butterfly. No danger for me, and I’m a tiny bit worried for the firefly.

I had always assumed the the LED colour was the sole attractant. However your article indicates that I must have hit upon a compatible blink interval too. That was a complete fluke because there’s no way for the camera operator to control that.

]]> By: John Kwok http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19583 John Kwok Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:55:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19583 Carl - I agree with you completely, but I don't think Simon and Schuster - Dawkins's publisher - would be thrilled, especially when they gave him a substantial advance for this. Am sorry that your book is coming out almost two weeks after Dawkins's. Thanks, John Carl -

I agree with you completely, but I don’t think Simon and Schuster – Dawkins’s publisher – would be thrilled, especially when they gave him a substantial advance for this. Am sorry that your book is coming out almost two weeks after Dawkins’s.

Thanks,

John

]]> By: John Kwok http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/comment-page-1/#comment-19582 John Kwok Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:49:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/06/29/fireflies-the-invertebrate-opera/#comment-19582 Carl, This is a bit off topic, but I just looked at the Amazon.com webpage for your forthcoming book and it doesn't have a publication date. For your sake I hope it's not due out this fall since it will be competing against Dawkins's new book. Best, John <strong>CZ: John, if you scroll down on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981519474?ie=UTF8&tag=carlzimmercom&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981519474" rel="nofollow">the Amazon page</a>, the Tangled Bank is due out October 1. We've just handed over the files to the printer, so I think we're actually going to hit that date. As for Dawkins's book, which is out on September 22, I think Amazon should offer one of their two-book-package-deals!</strong> Carl,

This is a bit off topic, but I just looked at the Amazon.com webpage for your forthcoming book and it doesn’t have a publication date. For your sake I hope it’s not due out this fall since it will be competing against Dawkins’s new book.

Best,

John

CZ: John, if you scroll down on the Amazon page, the Tangled Bank is due out October 1. We’ve just handed over the files to the printer, so I think we’re actually going to hit that date. As for Dawkins’s book, which is out on September 22, I think Amazon should offer one of their two-book-package-deals!

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