Lightning bugs, or Lampyridae photuris, have lit up the science of light.

Researchers at Penn State University have found that emulating the asymmetrical obtuse microstructures of a firefly, rather than today's symmetrical structure increases the amount of light able to escape releasing ultrahigh light extraction efficiency (LEE) light emitting diodes (LEDs). Or, if you make an LED like a firefly's butt, it's brighter.