Why Do Forests Glow at Night?

What is it?

Imagine tiny fireflies living in the dirt under your feet. They are glowing mushrooms! These special fungi have lights built inside them that turn on when it gets dark.

Why do they shine?

The mushroom makes a special liquid soup inside its cells. When something mixes with this soup, poof, light appears! It is like when you squeeze a stress ball and it clicks. The mushroom clicks with light.

What are the lights for?

The mushrooms want to share their seeds (spores) with the world. Since they cannot fly far on their own, they use the light as a beacon. Insects see the glow in the dark forest floor and come to visit. As they crawl over the mushroom, they pick up the tiny spores on their backs. Then the insects fly away to other forests, carrying the mushroom babies with them like invisible parcels.