ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Photophoresis

Hey kiddo, have you ever seen a firefly light up and glow in the dark? Well, that's because they have something called photophores on their bodies, which help them light up.

Photophoresis is a big word that sounds a bit tricky, but it's actually pretty simple. It's a natural process that happens when tiny particles or organisms, like bacteria, are exposed to light.

You know how sometimes you feel a little warmer when you're standing in the sun? Well, the same thing happens to these particles when they're exposed to light. This makes them move around and sometimes even stick to surfaces like where the light is shining.

Scientists have even discovered that photophoresis can help bacteria move around in the air! That's because when they're exposed to light, some of the particles around them warm up and create tiny air currents that push the bacteria along.

So basically, photophoresis is just a fancy way of saying that light and warmth can cause tiny things to move and sometimes stick to surfaces. Isn't science cool?