100-million-year-old firefly trapped in amber sheds light on the evolution of bioluminescence

Our knowledge of the evolutionary history of bioluminescent insects is being greatly advanced by the discovery of a recently discovered fossil firefly from Myanmar that was wrapped in amber.

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thumbnail image — Scientists have identified a previously unknown ancient firefly species — dubbed Flammarionella hehaikuni — from a 99 million-year-old fossil within Burmese amber. Photo Credit: Professor Chenyang Cai

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Florence Naa Oyoe Quartey

Front of mind

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