fireflies will be out there searching for a mate. an organism's ability to emit light has a name. it occurs when a protein called a lucifer in and an enzyme called the lucifer react with energy rich a.t.p. molecules and oxygen. as the report mentioned this chemical process is a very efficient. ninety five percent of the energy it produces is emitted as a light just five percent as heat. within can doesn't light bulbs that ratio is reversed. there in efficiency inspired researchers to make l.e.d.s. modeled on firefly it's good. for more stories from the world of research on technology and for our website d.w.