(dog barking)

(music plays)

In the attic, Zoey crouches down in home video and dances as animated flowers pop up around her. She has two braids and wears a red dress under a denim vest.

Zoey plays the ukelele and sings MY NAME IS ZOEY
AND THIS IS MY SHOW
I'M FINDING STUFF OUT
THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW
JUST ASK ME A QUESTION
THAT I DON'T KNOW
THAT'S WHY "FINDING STUFF OUT."

She opens a laptop and animated creatures appear.

She continues singing IS THE NAME OF THE SHOW
SO JUST GIVE ME A SHOUT
AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT
WITH THE HELP
OF SOME FRIENDS
AND THE FUN NEVER ENDS
ON FINDING STUFF OUT
FINDING STUFF OUT
FINDING STUFF OUT
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
YEAH

Zoey pushes a TV screen that reads "Finding Stuff Out" in yellow letters.
(thunder cracks)

In the attic, Zoey says THERE'S A CRAZY THUNDERSTORM
OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW.
AND THERE GOES THE POWER,
WHICH IS TOTALLY OKAY
BECAUSE I'M NOT AFRAID
OF THE DARK, LIKE, AT ALL.

(thunder cracks)
(Zoey shivers in fear)

She hides under the table.

She continues I WISH I COULD LIGHT UP
LIKE THESE GLOWING STARS.
I COULD BE MY OWN NIGHTLIGHT,
AND THEN THE DARKNESS
WOULDN'T GET ME.
THAT IS IF I WERE AFRAID
OF THE DARK,
WHICH I'M DEFINITELY NOT.
HEY, SPEAKING OF BEING
MY OWN NIGHTLIGHT,
HERE'S A GREAT QUESTION
I GOT FROM AIDYN.

Zoey turns to look at the TV screen. She presses a remote control. Aidyn’s picture appears on the screen against a black background with white question marks.

Aidyn says IF FIREFLIES GLOW IN THE DARK,
WHY CAN'T WE?
YEAH, WHY CAN'T WE GLOW
LIKE A FIREFLY?

Now, a magnifying glass appears on the TV screen.

Zoey says I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY
TRIED TO GLOW.
MAYBE I JUST HAVE
TO CONCENTRATE.
(shaking noise)
UGH. NOTHING'S GLOWING.
WHY CAN'T WE MAKE OUR OWN LIGHT
LIKE FIREFLIES?
OR LIKE COMETS?
OR LIGHTNING?
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW WE MAKE ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
BUT MAYBE YOUR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THINGS THAT LIGHT UP
WILL HELP ME FIND AN ANSWER
BY THE END OF THE SHOW.
A GOOD PLACE TO START IS
TO FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT CREATURES THAT KNOW
HOW TO GLOW.
HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION
ABOUT FIREFLIES.
THIS ONE'S FROM SHAUN.

Shaun’s picture appears on the screen.

Shaun says WHY DO FIREFLIES' BUTTS GLOW?

Zoey says I CHECKED AND I FOUND OUT
THAT FIREFLIES' BUTTS LIGHT UP
FOR ONE MAIN REASON:
ROMANCE.
I FOUND OUT THAT FIREFLIES
HAVE TWO SPECIAL CHEMICALS
IN THEIR BODIES, AND WHEN THEY
MIX TOGETHER, THEY CREATE LIGHT,
KINDA LIKE A GLOW STICK.

An animated firefly shakes its body and it glows.

Zoey continues THEY CAN CONTROL THESE CHEMICALS
TO TURN THEIR LIGHT ON AND OFF
WHENEVER THEY WANT.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF FIREFLIES
CAN MAKE YELLOW, GREEN,
ORANGE, OR EVEN BLUE LIGHT.
THEY ACTUALLY TALK
TO EACH OTHER
WITH PATTERNS OF FLASHES FROM
THEIR BUTTS, LIKE SECRET CODES.

A firefly says YOOHOO!

Zoey says THE MALE FIREFLIES FLASH
A MESSAGE TO SAY...
With a manly voice, she says "HEY! I'M
A CERTAIN TYPE OF FIREFLY.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT MYSELF."
AND IF A FEMALE LIKES
WHAT SHE'S SEEING,
THEY'LL FLASH BACK.
THEN THE MALE FOLLOWS
HER FLASHES
AND FLIES OVER
TO MEET HER.
HOW ROMANTIC!
(sighs)
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO FIND EACH
OTHER IN THE DARK. ACTUALLY,
THEY'RE NOT JUST SENDING
SAPPY MESSAGES,
THEIR FLASHES CAN ALSO WARN
HUNGRY PREDATORS TO STAY AWAY,
BECAUSE THEY TASTE
REALLY BAD.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GLOW,

She turns on a flashlight and says BUT WE CAN USE LIGHTS TO
COMMUNICATE LIKE FIREFLIES DO.
OOH! I BET MY FRIENDS KNOW
SOME WAYS THAT WE USE LIGHTS.

She types in a laptop and a clip shows children’s faces in different windows. A slate reads "Ask a Friend."

A blond boy says A POLICE CAR HAS A RED LIGHT
ON TOP WHICH SAYS,
"GET OUT OF THE WAY."

A girl says LIGHTHOUSES SHINE LIGHT
ON THE ROCKS,
THEN THE SHIPS CAN SEE THE ROCKS
AND THEN THEY WOULD TURN BACK.

A girl wearing glasses says LIKE, WHEN WE'RE DRIVING
AND WE SEE THE LIGHT IS
GREEN, RED, AND YELLOW.

A boy with brown hair says IF YOU FLASH LIGHTS
IN SPECIFIC WAYS
LIKE YOU TURN IT
OFF AND ON -
I THINK THAT CAN BE
MORSE CODE.

Back at the attic, Zoey says HOLY MOLY!
YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE USE FLASHING LIGHTS
TO COMMUNICATE ALL THE TIME.
HEY, WOULDN'T IT BE FUNNY IF
WE DID ALL THAT WITH OUR BUTTS?
YOU KNOW,
JUST LIKE FIREFLIES.
IT'S THE POLICE.
COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP.
IF YOU COULD MAKE ANY PART
OF YOU LIGHT UP
LIKE A FIREFLY'S BUTT,
WHAT WOULD IT BE?

A boy with a white polo-shirt says IT WOULD BE MY WRIST.

A girl with black hair says PROBABLY MY NOSE.

A boy says SOMEWHERE ON MY FACE, LIKE
MY EYES, MY NOSE, OR MY MOUTH.

A girl with long hair says MY NAILS FOR, LIKE,
HALLOWEEN, PARTIES, AND STUFF.

A girl with straight brown hair says I THINK I WOULD WANT
MY... UM...
HEAD TO GLOW SO PEOPLE
COULD SEE MY FACE.

Their body parts glow when they mention them.

Zoey says OOH, YEAH.
YOU COULD BE A GHOSTLY
FLOATING HEAD IN THE DARK.
WOOOO...
THIS NEXT QUESTION IS
FROM WILLIAM.
WOOOO...

On the TV screen, William says DO SOME FISH GLOW
IN THE DARK?

Zoey says DO SOME FISH GLOW IN THE DARK?
WELL, I CHECKED.
AND ON LAND, THERE AREN'T
TOO MANY ANIMALS
THAT CAN MAKE
THEIR OWN LIGHT,
BUT UNDERWATER,
IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.
TO FIND OUT MORE,
I SWAM TO THE DARKEST DEPTHS
OF THE OCEAN.
NOT REALLY.
I'M ACTUALLY IN THE VERY DARK
LABORATORY OF DR. DAVID MORSE,
A BIOLOGIST WHO SPECIALIZES
IN GLOWING SEA CREATURES.
WOAH! WHAT IS THAT?

David shakes a flask with a blue liquid. He is in his sixties with beard. He wears a white shirt.

David says THIS IS A FLASK
OF DINOFLAGELLATES.

Zoey says HUH. IT GLOWS.

David turns on the lights.

Zoey says OH, HELLO.

David says HI, ZOEY.

Zoey says THAT LOOKS LIKE PLAIN
OLD WATER IN THERE.
HOW COME IT WAS GLOWING?

David says WELL, IT'S NOT PLAIN OLD WATER.
IT'S ACTUALLY FULL
OF CREATURES.
AND THEY'RE REALLY AMAZING
BECAUSE THEY CAN PRODUCE
THEIR OWN LIGHT.

Zoey says I DON'T SEE ANY CREATURES.

David says WELL, THEY ARE SO SMALL
YOU ACTUALLY NEED A MICROSCOPE
TO SEE THEM.

David turns off the lights.

Zoey says WOW!
Shaking the flask, she says INCREDIBLE!
BUT WHY DO YOU HAVE TO STIR
THEM UP TO MAKE THEM GLOW?

David says THEY'RE SENSITIVE TO MOVEMENT,
LIKE SOMEBODY SWIMMING
IN THE OCEAN
OR A PREDATOR SWIMMING AFTER
THEM AND TRYING TO EAT THEM.
AND THEIR RESPONSE
TO THAT MOVEMENT
IS TO GIVE OFF
A FLASH OF LIGHT,
EITHER TO SCARE AWAY
THOSE PREDATORS
OR TO ATTRACT PREDATORS
OF THE PREDATORS.

Zoey says THEY USE THE LIGHT
TO COMMUNICATE
TO THE PREDATORS
OF THEIR PREDATORS?

David says THAT'S RIGHT, BUT ANY MOVEMENT
OF THE WATER
WILL MAKE THEM GIVE OFF LIGHT.
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE
THE BEACHES GLOW AT NIGHT
WITH THE WAVES,
AND THE WATER LIGHTS UP,
IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

In a clip, waves glow at night.

Zoey says AMAZING! CAN I SEE ONE
CLOSE UP?

David says SURE.

Zoey looks through a microscope and says WOW!
ALL THOSE CREATURES WERE
IN THAT WATER?

David says YES. AND THEY EVEN HAVE TAILS
TO HELP THEM SWIM.

Zoey says THEY'RE SO CUTE.
HOW DO THEY MAKE THAT LIGHT?

David says THE SAME WAY THAT FIREFLIES DO:
THEY BURN A MOLECULE
CALLED LUCIFERIN,
AND THAT PRODUCES THE LIGHT.

Zoey says COOL.
ARE THERE ANY KIND OF FISH
THAT USE LIGHT TO COMMUNICATE?

David says LOTS OF THEM. IN FACT,
MOST OF THE FISH
THAT LIVE AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE SEA ARE BIOLUMINESCENT.

Close-up shots show different marine organisms.

Zoey says DR. MORSE TELLS ME
THAT BIOLUMINESCENCE
IS THE CHEMICAL REACTION
THAT MAKES SOME CREATURES
PRODUCE THEIR OWN LIGHT.

David says IT'S VERY VAST AND DARK
IN THE DEEP SEA,
SO THE CREATURES THERE
USE LIGHT
TO FIND AND SIGNAL THEIR MATES
OR TO LURE IN THEIR PREY.

Zoey says COOL.

David says DID YOU KNOW THAT SOME ANIMALS
CAN ACTUALLY
SCARE OFF THEIR PREDATORS
WITH BURSTS OF LIGHT?
AND OTHERS CAN HIDE
BY LIGHTING UP THEIR BELLIES
TO PERFECTLY MATCH THE LIGHT
COMING DOWN FROM ABOVE
SO THAT PREDATORS CAN'T SEE
THEIR SILHOUETTES.

An animated shark looks at a silhouette swimming in the ocean.

The shark says OH, WHICH WAY DID HE GO?

Zoey says HOLY COW! THERE ARE SO MANY FISH
AND OTHER SEA CREATURES
THAT CAN GLOW
IN AMAZING WAYS.
HEY, CAN I KEEP SOME
DINOFLAGELLATES AS PETS?

David says SURE YOU CAN. I PUT SOME
IN THIS TUBE FOR YOU.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT THEM
IN THE SUNLIGHT EVERY DAY,
AND THEN THEY'LL LIGHT UP
AT NIGHT.

Zoey says COOL. I'M SO EXCITED.
I'M GOING TO NAME THEM ALL.

David says I SHOULD TELL YOU
THERE'S PROBABLY
ABOUT A MILLION IN THERE.

Zoey says A MILLION?
NOW I HAVE TO THINK
OF A MILLION NAMES.
OKAY.
I'LL NAME YOU SPARKY,
AND YOU TWINKLE TOES.
YOU, LIGHTNING.
YOU, THUNDER.

David says THIS COULD TAKE A WHILE.

Zoey says YOU, TWILIGHT.
BOY, I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO THINK OF A LOT OF NAMES.
MEANWHILE, HERE'S
ANOTHER QUESTION
ABOUT GLOWING ANIMALS
FROM DEBORAH.

Deborah says HOW COME A NEON FISH
WILL GLOW AT NIGHT
WHEN YOU SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT
AT THEM?

Back at the attic, Zoey says WELL, DEBORAH,
I CHECKED.
AND SOME ANIMALS DON'T MAKE
THEIR OWN LIGHT,
BUT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD
AT REFLECTING IT.
NEON FISH HAVE CRYSTALS IN THE
SKIN UNDERNEATH THEIR SCALES
THAT REFLECT LIGHT,
KIND OF LIKE THE REFLECTOR
ON YOUR BIKE.
BUT WITHOUT LIGHT,
YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.
AND CHECK THIS OUT,
SOME FISH REFLECT LIGHT
IN AN EXTRA COOL WAY,
BY CHANGING COLOR.
IT'S CALLED BIOFLUORESCENCE.
THESE FISH LIVE
IN THE DEEP, DARK OCEAN,
WHERE ONLY BLUE LIGHT
GETS THROUGH.
WHEN THAT BLUE LIGHT
HITS THEM,
IT'S REFLECTED AS GREEN
OR RED LIGHT.
THAT'S BECAUSE
BIOFLUORESCENT FISH
HAVE SPECIAL COLORED LENSES
IN THEIR EYES,
KIND OF LIKE SUNGLASSES.

Two animated fish wear sunglasses.

She continues THEY STAND OUT LIKE A LIGHT BULB
IN THE DARK,
AND THAT'S HOW THEY RECOGNIZE
THEIR OWN KIND.
THAT GIVES ME AN IDEA FOR...

(fanfare)
In an animation, Zoey spins the world on one finger. Bright light orange letters read "My Great Challenge."

Zoey says I HAVE HERE WITH ME...
JEREMY, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU
A SQUIGGLE FISH.

Jeremy is 12 years old- He has short blond hair and wears a gray T-shirt.

Jeremy says YEAH!

AND, MALI, I'M GOING
TO CALL YOU A SPLAT FISH.

Mali is 12 years old. She has long blond hair and wears a gray cardigan and shorts.

Mali says YES!

Zoey says YOU EACH HAVE DIFFERENT
HIDDEN PATTERNS ON YOUR ARMS
THAT YOU CAN ONLY SEE
WITH THESE BLACK LIGHTS.
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE USING
THE SPECIAL EYES
THAT SOME FISH HAVE
FOR FINDING
THE HIDDEN REFLECTING COLORS
OF THEIR MATES.
YOU GET TO DO ALMOST THE SAME
THING IN THIS CHALLENGE:
USE YOUR BLACK LIGHT TO FIND
THE BIOFLUORESCENT FISH
WITH YOUR PATTERN ON IT.
OH, YEAH, AND SOME FISH HAVE
NO PATTERN AT ALL.
JUST TO TRICK YOU.
YOUR CHALLENGE IS TO FIND
AS MANY FISH OF YOUR OWN KIND
AS YOU CAN
IN TWO MINUTES
AND TAKE THEM BACK TO
YOUR HOME BASE, RIGHT HERE.
ARE YOU READY?

Jeremy stands in an area with three red circles. Mali’s area has three yellow diamonds.

Kids say YEAH!

Zoey says THEN GO FIND
YOUR FISHY MATCHES.
THE ONE WHO GETS
THE MOST FISH, WINS.
SQUIGGLE FISH FOUND A PATTERN
RIGHT AWAY,
BUT IT'S SPLAT FISH'S PATTERN.

The kids use flashlight to check the cardboard fishes hanging in the attic.

Jeremy says I KEEP ON FINDING THEM
THAT DON'T MATCH.

Zoey says IT'S SPLAT FISH,
LOOKING FOR A PATTERN.
YES! IT CHECKS OUT.
THAT'S ONE FOR SPLAT FISH.
BUT SQUIGGLE FISH HAS ONE TOO.
AND SQUIGGLE GETS ANOTHER,
RIGHT AWAY.
THAT PUTS HIM IN THE LEAD.
2 TO 1.
SQUIGGLE, LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
MATCH... AND FINDING IT.
GET MOVING,
SPLAT FISH!
SO FAR, SQUIGGLE FISH HAS 3,
AND SPLAT FISH
CATCHING UP NOW WITH 2.
SPLAT FISH GETS ANOTHER ONE.
BUT SO DOES SQUIGGLE FISH.
THE DEEPER YOU GO
IN THE OCEAN,
THE BLUER AND DARKER IT IS.
THAT'S WHY BIOFLUORESCENCE
IS AMAZING.
ANIMALS THAT CAN MAKE
THESE COLORS AND PATTERNS
LIGHT UP BRIGHTLY CAN USE THEM
TO SEE EACH OTHER IN THE DARK,
AVOID PREDATORS THAT
CAN'T SEE THEM,
AND FIND A MATE
TO HAVE BABIES WITH.

A timer appears on screen.

Zoey says ONLY 10 SECOND LEFT!

Mali says I CAN'T FIND ANY MORE.

Zoey says CAN SPLAT FISH CATCH UP?
OH, NO!
THIS FISH HAS NO PATTERN.
IT'S NOT BIOLUMINESCENT.
SPLAT FISH IS WASTING HER TIME.
OKAY, GUYS.
TIME'S UP.
SO, MALI, YOU HAVE 5 POINTS.

Mali says YAY!

Zoey says AND, JEREMY,
YOU HAVE 6 POINTS.

Jeremy says YES!

Zoey says SO YOU WIN.
AND NOW...
TIME FOR A BLACKOUT PARTY!

(music plays)
The light goes out and they dance having glowing patterns on their skins.

Zoey says THIS IS ALMOST AS MUCH FUN
AS THIS QUESTION FROM ANDELAINE.

Andelaine says WHY DOES A COMET HAVE
A GLOWING TAIL?

Two animated pirates sing YAR! HAR! HAR!
(GASP) WOAH!

The sea ends and their boat falls.

Bright light orange letters read "The Flat Earth Corner."

In an animation, Zoey stands in a meadow.

She says NO, NO, NO.
THIS IS A TERRIBLE SIGN.
THAT DEVIL STAR WILL
BRING US NOTHING
BUT EARTHQUAKES AND
PLAGUES OF SICKNESS.
THE RAIN WILL TURN RED
WITH BLOOD.
AND ANIMALS WILL BE BORN
WITH TWO HEADS.
RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

Now, the earth appears behind her.

Zoey says AND WHILE YOU RUN
FOR YOUR LIFE,
DO IT IN STYLE WITH THESE DEVIL
COMET T-SHIRTS AND BUTTONS.
OR COMMEMORATE THE END OF
THE WORLD WITH A PENDANT.
I'VE GOT EVERY SOUVENIR
FOR THE COMET APOCALYPSE
AT LOW, LOW PRICES.

A caption appears on screen. It reads "Call Now!"

(ding!)

At the attic, Zoey says PRETTY MUCH EVERY ANCIENT
CULTURE IN THE WORLD
DREADED SEEING A COMET
IN THE NIGHT SKY.
I FOUND OUT THAT THEY THOUGHT
THE COMETS WERE SENT BY GODS
TO BRING WAR, ILLNESS,
AND DESTRUCTION,
AND EVERY BAD THING
YOU COULD IMAGINE.
LUCKILY, THANKS TO SCIENCE, WE
KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THEM NOW.
IN FACT, I'VE GOT
SOME EXPERTS
WHO ARE GOING TO HELP
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ANDELAINE.
PLEASE WELCOME, ASTROPHYSICISTS
FROM THE MCGILL SPACE INSTITUTE,
ROBERT AND GABRIELLE.

Gabrielle and Robert walk into the attic. Gabrielle has long brown hair and wears a dark dress. Robert wears dark trousers and a beige shirt.

Robert says HI, ZOEY.

Gabrielle says HI, ZOEY.

Zoey says HI. WOW! WHAT IS THIS?

Holding a smoking pot, Gabrielle says THIS IS DRY ICE.

Robert says WE'RE GOING TO USE IT
IN A MINUTE TO MAKE COMETS.

Zoey says COOL.

Robert says IT'S ACTUALLY EXTREMELY COLD.

Zoey laughs.

Zoey says WOW.

Gabrielle says OKAY, SO HERE ARE ALL
THE INGREDIENTS WE NEED
TO MAKE OUR VERY OWN COMET.

Zoey says LIKE A COMET CAKE MIX.

Robert says BUT I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT
TO EAT THESE CAKES.

Zoey laughs.

Gabrielle says MOST COMETS HAVE DIRT,
AND THEY HAVE DUST IN THEM.
SO WE'RE GONNA USE
THE SAND HERE AND THE DIRT,
AND WE'RE GONNA MIX IT
IN THE BAG.
AND YOU CAN DO THE SAME
WITH THE DIRT NOW.

Robert says SO WE MOSTLY THINK OF COMETS
AS DIRTY SNOWBALLS IN SPACE.
SO WE ALREADY HAVE
THE DIRT PART,
BUT FOR THE SNOWBALL BIT,
WE'RE GONNA USE SOME WATER.
SO NOW WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH
A MUD PIE.
NOW WE NEED TO MAKE IT
INTO A COMET.
WE'RE GONNA USE THE DRY ICE
WE FOUND EARLIER
TO FREEZE OUR COMET.
WE DON'T WANT TO FREEZE
OUR HANDS.
WE HAVE SOME MITTENS
TO PUT ON.
SO I'M JUST GONNA ADD
A FEW SCOOPS OF THIS.

Zoey holds the bag and laughs.

He continues AND THERE WE GO,
ONE MORE FOR GOOD MEASURE.
OKAY, SO YOU WANT TO PUSH THAT
ALL TO ONE SIDE OF THE BAG?

Gabrielle says I CAN HELP.
(laughing)
WE CAN TAKE THE COMET
OUT OF THE BAG AND LOOK AT IT.

Zoey says WOW! IT LOOKS LIKE
AN UGLY SNOWBALL.

Robert says AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT COMETS LOOK LIKE
WHEN THEY'RE REALLY
FAR AWAY FROM THE SUN.

Gabrielle says SO, HOW DOES IT LIGHT UP?

Robert says IF YOU WERE TO BLOW
ON THE COMET...

Zoey says WOW.

Gabrielle says YOU SEE?
IT'S PRODUCING A TAIL.

Robert says THAT'S JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN A COMET GETS CLOSE
TO THE SUN,
IT STARTS TO MELT AND IT LEAVES
BEHIND A BIG LONG VAPOR TRAIL.
THE SUN PUSHES THE VAPOR TRAIL
AWAY FROM THE COMET
AND GIVES US THE BIG TAIL
WE SEE IN THE SKY.

Zoey says OH! SO THE COMET'S TAIL ALWAYS
POINTS AWAY FROM THE SUN.
BUT WHAT MAKES IT LIGHT UP?

Robert says IT JUST REFLECTS
THE LIGHT OF THE SUN.

Zoey says OH. I GET IT. IT'S THE SAME WAY
THE MOON SHINES.

Robert says EXACTLY.

Zoey says WELL, THANKS FOR BEING
ON MY SHOW.

Robert says THANKS FOR HAVING US.

Zoey says I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION
FROM ANDREA
ABOUT LIGHTS WE SEE
IN THE SKY.

Zoey presses the remote control.

Andrea says WHY IS LIGHTNING SO BRIGHT?

Zoey says I CHECKED, AND I FOUND OUT
THAT THE BIG FLASH OF LIGHT
IS CREATED BY ELECTRICITY
THAT BUILDS UP IN THE CLOUDS.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE
WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOUR SOCKS STICK TOGETHER
WHEN THEY'RE TUMBLED UP
IN THE DRYER
AND YOU TRY TO PULL
THEM APART...
THEY ZAP.
CHECK OUT THIS CARTOON
I MADE.
TINY PIECES OF ICE FORM
HIGH UP IN THE SKY
WHERE IT'S REALLY COLD.
THESE ICE CRYSTALS TURN
AROUND IN THE WIND
AND THEY BUMP AGAINST WATER
DROPLETS AND OTHER ICE CRYSTALS.
AS THEY RUB AND BUMP
INTO EACH OTHER,
THEY BUILD UP
AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE.
EVENTUALLY, THE CHARGE
BUILDS AND BUILDS
TO FORM A GIGANTIC SPARK.

(thunder cracks)
Cartoon characters recreate what Zoey tells.

Zoey continues THE LIGHTNING'S BRIGHT FLASH
COMES FROM THAT SPARK.
DID YOU KNOW THAT A BOLT
OF LIGHTNING CAN GIVE OFF
AS MUCH LIGHT AS ALMOST
17 MILLION LIGHT BULBS AT ONCE?
THAT'S A LOT OF LIGHT BULBS!

In an animation, Zoey turns into a giant robot walking in the street. Bright light orange letters read "Do try this at home."

Zoey says EMERALD AND LENAIA ARE GOING
TO SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE
YOUR OWN MINI-LIGHTNING WITH
JUST A BALLOON AND A SPOON.
HERE'S WHAT YOU DO.
RUB THE BALLOON ON YOUR HAIR
UNTIL IT GETS GOOD AND STATICKY.
YOU'LL KNOW IT'S READY
WHEN YOUR HAIR STANDS UP
AND STICKS TO THE BALLOON.

Emerald and Lenaia are two little girls. They stand in a living room.

Emerald rubs a balloon on her hair.

Lenaia says I THINK IT'S READY.

Zoey says THEN, IN THE DARK, BRING A SPOON
CLOSE TO THE BALLOON.

Lenaia says OH, THERE'S A LITTLE SPARK.

Zoey says WOW! DID YOU SEE THAT?
IT'S TINY LIGHTNING.

The girls say BYE, ZOEY.

Zoey says NATURE HAS SOME COOL WAYS
TO MAKE LIGHT.
BUT WHAT ABOUT US HUMANS?
HERE'S A QUESTION
FROM ANDREW.

Andrew says HOW DID PEOPLE SEE IN THE DARK
WHEN THERE WAS NO LIGHT?

(chirping crickets)
An animated cave dweller holds a burning stick.

He says TIRED OF DARK
WHEN DAY GOES AWAY?
TRY NEW FIRE STICK.
IT LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE.
SNIFF, SNIFF.
WOAH!
HUH. INVENTION NEED WORK.

Zoey says THE FIRST THING HUMANS USED
FOR LIGHT WAS FIRE.
BUT IT'S DANGEROUS AND
BURNS OUT REALLY QUICKLY.
BUT I FOUND OUT THAT,
EVENTUALLY,
WE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE IT
BURN SLOWER.
WE BURNED MOSS SOAKED
IN ANIMAL FAT,
WHICH LED TO THE FIRST
OIL LAMP.
AFTER THAT WE MADE CANDLES
OUT OF WAX.
BUT WHEN WE FIGURED OUT
HOW TO CAPTURE
AND CONTROL NATURE'S
ELECTRICITY,
EVERYTHING CHANGED.
THIS IS A PERFECT TIME
FOR SOFIA'S QUESTION.

Sofia says HOW DO YOU MAKE A LIGHT BULB?

Zoey says HOW DO I MAKE A LIGHT BULB?
DING! I ASKED
MY SCIENTIST FRIEND, SHAKIB,
ALONG WITH DANIELE AND ANDREA.
HE KNOWS HOW THOMAS EDISON
MADE THE FIRST REALLY
USEFUL LIGHT BULB
BACK IN 1879.

Shakib sits in a room next to Andrea and Daniele.

Shakib is in his thirties. He has short black hair and a beard. He wears glasses and a gray shirt.

Shakib says IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THIS
WITH AN ADULT,
BECAUSE IT CAN GET
A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS.
ANDREA HERE IS GOING
TO HELP ME.
SO WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO
IS TAKE THIS TOILET PAPER ROLL,
AND TAPE MY TWO ALLIGATOR CLIPS
TO THE SIDE OF THAT.
AND, DANIELE,
I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU
USE OUR THIN PIECE
OF FILAMENT HERE,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY A PIECE
OF PICTURE WIRE,
AND ATTACH IT ONTO
OUR ALLIGATOR CLIPS.
AND NOW I WANT YOU TO COVER IT
WITH THIS JAM JAR
THAT I CLEANED OUT EARLIER.
THE LAST THING WE'LL NEED
IS SOME ELECTRICITY
TO SEND THROUGH THE FILAMENT
SO THAT IT GLOWS.
I HAVE A BATTERY PACK HERE.
I'M GOING TO CONNECT.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS SEE?

Danielle says FIRE.

Andrea says A LIGHT AND BURNING.

Shakib says YES. WE MADE A LIGHT BULB.

Zoey looks at them in her laptop screen and says COOL.

Danielle says YEAH.
THAT'S FOR SURE.

Zoey says UH OH.

Shakib says WOW! DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT?

The boys say YEAH.

Danielle says YES, IT JUST BURNED.

Shakib says THE FILAMENT'S COMPLETELY GONE.
BUT WE DO HAVE A WAY TO MAKE
THE FILAMENT LAST LONGER.
WHAT'S IN THE JAR,
YOU GUYS?

The boys say AIR.

Shakib says VERY GOOD.
SO IF WE REMOVE THE AIR
FROM THE JAR, WE CAN ACTUALLY
MAKE OUR FILAMENT LAST
A LITTLE BIT LONGER
AND HAVE A BETTER LIGHT BULB.
SO WE'VE GOT A CANDLE HERE.
PUT THAT IN HERE. AND WE HAVE
TO ATTACH A NEW FILAMENT.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
WITH OUR CANDLE IS LIGHT IT.
SO A CANDLE REQUIRES
A COUPLE THINGS TO BURN.
OF COURSE IT NEEDS THE FUEL,
WHICH IS THE WAX WE HAVE
IN THE CANDLE,
BUT IT ALSO NEEDS AIR,
OR OXYGEN, TO BURN.
IF WE USE THE JAR
AND WE COVER OUR CANDLE,
WHAT WILL END UP HAPPENING IS
WE WON'T HAVE ANY OXYGEN LEFT.
CAN YOU SEE THAT THE CANDLE
FLAME STARTS TO GET
A LITTLE DIMMER?

Danielle says YEAH.

Shakib says AND THEN IT GOES OUT, AND
WE GET A NICE PUFF OF SMOKE.
SO THEN WE KNOW THERE'S
NO OXYGEN LEFT INSIDE OUR JAR.
AND I'LL JUST CONNECT
THE OTHER CLIP HERE.
AND LOOK, THIS TIME IT
LIGHTS UP, BUT IT DOESN'T BURN,
BECAUSE THERE'S
NO OXYGEN INSIDE.
EDISON TRIED A WHOLE BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT FILAMENTS
FOR HIS LIGHT BULBS,
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL
HE REMOVED THE AIR
AND CREATED A VACUUM INSIDE
THAT HE INVENTED
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB.

Zoey says AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
THAT WAS AN AWESOME EXPERIMENT.
THANKS, GUYS.

Shakib and the boys wave at the screen and say BYE.

(music plays)
Zoey sings and dances in an animated background.

Zoey sings WELL, WHEN IT COMES
TO LIGHTING UP
FROM FIRE TO FISH
THAT GLOW
NATURE'S HAD IT FIGURED OUT
FROM EONS LONG AGO
BUT WHEN WE USE OUR BRAINY
MINDS TO FOLLOW NATURE'S LEAD
WE USE THE THINGS AROUND US
TO CREATE THE LIGHT WE NEED
OH WE MADE OIL LAMPS
AND TORCHES
FIREWORKS AND CANDLES
LANTERNS, LIGHT BULBS
LUMINESCENT LIGHTS
ON OUR BIKE HANDLES
NEON SIGNS, GLOW STICKS,
LASER SHOWS AND MOVIES
TRAFFIC LIGHTS,
THIS LIGHTNING THING
THESE FLASHY SHOES
ARE GROOVY
THERE'S HEADLAMPS,
PYROTECHNICS, FAIR RIDES
COMPUTER SCREENS,
HOLIDAY LIGHTS, LIGHTHOUSES

Zoey’s head explodes. Bright light orange letters read "You’re gonna make my head explode."

Zoey says WHEW.
WE'VE HARNESSED LIGHT TO DO SO
MANY AMAZING AND SILLY THINGS.
BUT I STILL CAN'T GET MY OWN
BUTT TO GLOW LIKE FIREFLIES.
NO FAIR.
AND THAT BRINGS US BACK
TO THE QUESTION
THAT STARTED OFF THE SHOW.

Aidyn says IF FIREFLIES GLOW IN THE DARK,
WHY CAN'T WE?

Zoey says THE BIG ANSWER IS...

Zoey presses all the keys of a piano.

Zoey says WE ACTUALLY DO.
WELL, NOT ENOUGH TO SEE
WITH OUR EYES.
ONLY JUST A TINY,
TINY AMOUNT.
I FOUND OUT THAT ALL
LIVING CREATURES
GIVE OFF A VERY SMALL
AMOUNT OF LIGHT
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITIES
OF OUR CELLS.
WE HUMANS HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO MAKE OUR OWN LIGHT
ON PURPOSE, THOUGH,
THE WAY CAVE WORMS
AND DEEP SEA FISH DO.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE
IN CONSTANT DARKNESS.
BUT WE WERE SMART ENOUGH
TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO MAKE THE LIGHT WE NEED
WITH STUFF WE FOUND IN NATURE,
WHICH MEANS...
IT'S PARTY TIME!
WOO-HOO!

A caption reads "Thanks to everyone who helped me out, Zoey Siewert."

The end credits roll.

Produced in association with TVO Kids.

Logos: TVO Kids. Apartment 11 productions."