David Attenborough's Life Stories

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

Factual: Pets & Animals

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants

Series of talks by Sir David Attenborough on the natural histories of creatures and plants from around the world

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David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2: Fireflies

Fireflies

Series 2

BBC Radio 4 Extra - David Attenborough's Life Stories, Series 2, Fireflies

Fireflies generate light by themselves and they do this with style.

David Attenborough explores animal signalling, looking at fireflies and their ability to generate light of their own. From 2011.

The chemistry that allows the combustion of natural chemicals to generate light without heat is wonderfully harnessed by the firefly. 

Fireflies are insects with several species in the group; each with its own species specific code and signalling regime. 

In this life story, Sir David Attenborough tells of his personal experience filming the antics of fireflies and the insight this gave him into this secret world of messaging.

Written and presented by David Attenborough

Producer: Julian Hector.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2011.

David Attenborough's Life Stories: Series 2

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