How 'bioluminescent' trees that glow like fireflies could one day replace our streetlights

[The Straight Story]

How 'bioluminescent' trees that glow like fireflies could one day replace our streetlights

Scientists are developing ways of making trees glow so they can be used as natural streetlights without the need for electricity.

A team of researchers are experimenting with genes to allow the trait that causes fireflies to glow -bioluminescence - to be implanted into a variety of different organisms.

As well as replacing traditional streetlights, bioluminescent plants would be useful for people who are not hooked up to the electricity grid.

And if more lights were ever required, they could simply be grown.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1333334/How-trees-glow-like-fireflies-day-replace-streetlights.html#ixzz16PfIQVJM

[siligut]

1. OK, this is cool

I can imagine some uses for this technology, amazing.

[XemaSab]

2. Oh, there's no way THAT could possibly go wrong

:eyes:

[Tesha]

23. "Do you remember when there used to be darkness?" (NT)

[tridim]

3. Glowing pets will be next. Book it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. A glowing cat would be cool, and would also solve the problem

of them being able to see better in the dark than me and sneaking up on me and grabbing my ankle. I could see the little bastards coming.

[Mz Pip]

8. It's been done!

Day-Glow Fluffy!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9833107-1.html

[alfredo]

7. It has already happened. google "glowing cat."

Edit:

Another image:

[Liberal Veteran]

4. I, for one, welcome our future glowing sylvan overlords.

[alfredo]

6. I wonder if it will disrupt the natural cycle for animals that

depend on that tree? What about the light dependent cycle of that tree? Will it affect flowering? Can the gene be passed on to other trees of the same species?

[lunatica]

9. Avatar's Pandora comes to mind

The plants in the movie are bioluminescent at night.

[alfredo]

12. As long as they don't try to "connect" to me.

[siligut]

19. Click the link

There is a pic from Avatar at the link. :) :hi:

[intheflow]

16. That was my first thought, too.

What effects will these plants have on the ecosystem? I find it disturbing that these scientists are looking to solve one problem (fossil-based electricity use in street lights) seemingly without taking a systemic approach to look at the real problems that have been caused by invasive plant species to local ecosystems.

[jeff47]

24. Some answers

Animals: Not any more than the presence of a regular street light. Those seem to have only affected insect navigation. Keep in mind the full moon is pretty bright, and it's always been present during the evolution of animals.

Light cycle of the tree/flowering: No. Light cycles of trees are governed by two wavelengths of red light. Firefly biolumenesence is green. Experiments have been done where every other wavelength is blasted at deciduous plants and it did not effect their cycle.

Can the gene be passed on: Maybe. One can theoretically combine the gene for light with a gene for sterility to prevent this. But since this research is nowhere near the 'roll it out' phase, we have no idea what the final packaging will look like.

[alfredo]

30. I want one in plaid, or can change colors like those cheesy

aluminum christmas trees that came with the light with a color wheel.

Edited to add visual aid.

[Joanne98]

10. COOL!

[kestrel91316]

11. Bioengineering FAIL. Bioluminescence does NOT = illumination.

[alfredo]

13. Try to find your way in a dark basement with a glow stick.

[jeff47]

26. Try to find your way in a dark basement with 100 glow sticks spread around the room (nt)

[alfredo]

29. Just like a Rave.

[jeff47]

28. Only in scale. Enough bioluminescence causes illumination. (nt)

[NoodleyAppendage]

14. Avatar world environment. Cool, but beware unintended consequences.

I suspect nocturnal animals who rely upon the dark for hunting or protections might not be too thrilled to hear this news.

J

[RC]

15. Just what we need. More light pollution.

[Speck Tater]

17. Right. And back in the 60's everyone would have a personal flying car by 2000.

Who dreams up this stupid crap that will never actually happen?

[slackmaster]

20. And what happened to the Metric System, and 30-hour work week we were supposed to have by now?

Walt Disney lied.

[MadHound]

18. And nothing could possibly go wrong with this, now could it?

More stupid idiocy. As a neat science trick, OK, it's cool. However luminescent trees are not something we should unleash on the world.

How about we just power the street lights with solar or wind energy:shrug:

[Greyhound]

21. Good thing I check the old pages. Cool stuff like this sinks so quickly. K&R

:kick: & R

[immoderate]

22. If you make people glow, you won't need the trees.

--imm

[Edweird]

25. Hey, I doubt it.

[Hannah Bell]

27. i don't want bioluminescent trees.

[Skip Intro]

31. I don't think we should be messing with this stuff. nt

[TheKentuckian]

32. I kinda cotton to it but hope they are careful.