Fireflies
A toy about synchronisation — a few hundred blinking dots that agree on a rhythm with no conductor anywhere.
Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.
How to get the most from it
Fireflies sits in Science Toys under Learn, filed as a minute.
- Give it one round. There is nothing to finish and nothing lost by leaving.
- It works on a phone or a desktop, so open it on whatever is nearest.
- It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
- No account needed — you can start without signing up.
- Go in expecting something mesmerising, calming and clever.
About this category: Simulations you can meddle with: orbits, evolution, chemistry, cellular automata. Understanding through interference rather than through reading.
Good for
- A one-round break between tasks
- Watching something hypnotic for a while
- Winding down when your head is busy
- Being impressed by a clever idea
- A quiet break at your desk
- Killing time on your phone
- Trying it with zero commitment
Fireflies: quick answers
Is Fireflies free?
Yes. Fireflies is free to use and needs no account.
Do I need an account to use Fireflies?
No. You can use Fireflies without signing up for anything.
Does Fireflies work on a phone?
Yes. Fireflies works on phones as well as desktop browsers.
Is Fireflies safe for work?
Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.
How long does Fireflies take?
We file it as "A minute": One quick round, then you can leave.
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