Fireflies Find Their Beat: Simple Rules Drive Synchronized Flashes
Scientists studying Photinus carolinus in Congaree National Park show that a small group of male fireflies can synchronize their flashes via local interaction rules; using 3D tracking and LED experiments, they found that synchronization occurs most reliably in groups larger than ~15 and displays long-range correlations, with an integrate-and-fire model based on a phase-response curve reproducing the pattern—offering insights for circadian biology and coordinated technologies like drone swarms.