Lights in the Night

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"This has nothing to do with man ~ it's completely natural," notes one appreciative observer of the largest firefly show, maybe, in the world. The spectacle, which takes place every year in a forest in Tennessee, draws almost as many viewers as it does performers (video): http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/tennessee-fireflies-a-summertime-light-show/
   One can just sit in the gloaming and enjoy the sight of the twinkling lights ... or, if one is of the scientific persuasion, one can try to understand the "why" behind it all. "So little is known about the biology of fireflies," says James Lloyd, of the University of Florida, Gainesville. "What on Earth are they doing out there?" Here's what we do know ~ and it's just as fascinating as the sight is beautiful (video): http://sciencefriday.com/video/07/03/2014/in-a-flash-firefly-communication.html
   If you are lucky enough to live in an area frequented by these little creatures, you can help scientists at Boston's Museum of Science, Tufts University, and Fitchburg State College by keeping track of the ones you see: https://legacy.mos.org/fireflywatch/