Flutterby™! : Fireflies

Fireflies

2001-06-29 23:28:16+00 by Dan Lyke 4 comments

Via /.: Just say NO: Nitric Oxide is the switch for a firefly's light. So the chemistry is escaping me right now, but is this something like nature's own "poppers"?

[ related topics: Nature and environment ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:32:00+00 by: Dylan

Weeeeeelll...almost, but not quite. As we all know, one little atom makes a big difference...in this case that's all the difference: NO (Nitric Oxide) vs. N₂0 (Nitrous Oxide).

I'd think this was no big deal, if not for the shining example of Hydrogen Peroxide vs. Water (H₂O₂ vs. H₂0). Feel like drinking any peroxide today? Me neither.

Actually, forget my pedantism...I too prefer to think the fireflies are always loaded.

#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:32:00+00 by: Dan Lyke

Yah, I remember the differences between Nitrous Oxide and Nitric Oxide, I just couldn't remember what the critical ingredients in poppers were. It's that branch o' drug culture I never indulged in, and I was fairly sure (still kinda think) that poppers have something that's an NO precursor in 'em.

#Comment made: 2002-02-21 05:32:00+00 by: topspin

Poppers = amyl/butyl/??? nitrites. I've no idea these could be used for anything other than room deodorizers. Sex, of course, often changes the odor in a room. <wink>

#Comment made: 2001-06-30 17:15:52+00 by: Larry Burton [edit history]

I was listening to a nutrition program this morning on the radio and the subject of herbal substitutes for viagra came up. L-argentine was brought up in some relationship to Nitric Oxide as being a vasal dialator. I also recall the lyrics of a song sung by The Guess Who that went:

Cocaine and morphine too,
anything to get you high;
little pink pills in a big brown bag,
trucking out across the sky.

From what I recall the little pink pills were some sort of industrial deodorizers.