Larry 0. Boozer, Age 8, Of Gur1ey, Ala., for his question:

How does a firefly make its light?

For countless ages children and grown ups have loved the fairy lights of the flickering fireflies. Some of the cleverest scientists have tried to find out how the bitsy bugs light their tiny bulbs. Many experts also wondered how the lightning bugs manage to flash their signals on and off.

Peop1e have always admired the wonders of nature and tried to explain how they work. The age of science began when thoughtful people used their heads to find out why the sky is blue, why the grass is green and how fireflies make their fairy flashes of light. An up to date expert does not believe one of these problems is solved until he can prove it and prove it and prove it with tests.

The experts started trying to find the secrets of the firefly about 100 years ago. Since then they have found some of the chemicals that the happy little bug uses to light his bulb. They know that it is a splendid light that glows without also becoming warm. It would be fine to know how this trick is done, because all our lights give off heat, even when we do not want them to do so.

But all the work and wishing so far have not so1ved the problem completely. Almost every year some team of experts adds a bit more to what we already know about the magic of the firefly. But no one can prove that he knows all about it, for no one can copy the light of the firefly.

It is plain that the light bulb is in the tail of the firefly. This is ca11ed the light organ, the living machinery that makes the light. About 50 years ago the experts found that the little beetle uses two chemicals to make his cool, soft light. A chemical called luciferin makes the light. It interacts with another chemical called luclferase. The light organ is fed by tiny blood vessels, and a supply of oxygen is brought in through a network of tiny tubes.

Later the experts found out that the firefly uses still another chemical to light his little bulb. Its full name is adendosine trisulphate, but everyone calls it atp. This atp also is one of the chemicals the cells of our bodies need to do their work.

Scientists know a lot about the chemicals luciferin and luciferase and atp. But the cleverest expert cannot explain exactly how the little firefly flashes on and off his fairy light.

Many creatures can create their own lights to glow in the dark. The trick is called bioluminescence, but mother nature's little children do not have to know this big word to make it work. Glowworms and lantern  can glow in the dark; so can some of the centipedes and millipedes. Certain clams and corals, squids and sponges use the magic tricks of bioluminescence to create glowing lights in the dark waters of the sea.