Researchers at MIT infused plants with the enzyme that makes fireflies glow, making them glow, too. It's neat, but why do it? "Imagine that instead of switching on a lamp when it gets dark, you could read by the light of a glowing plant on your desk." Seriously? If the point is grid-independent lighting, then a solar-charged lamp does the job better and without the eerie green glow. "This technology could also be used...to transform trees into self-powered streetlights, the researchers say." What happens in winter? For that matter what happens when insects nibble the leaves? Will they glow, too? No doubt there is a useful future for nanobionic technology, but what that may be in unclear in the faerie light dazzle.
|
|
mostly about energy, the environment, design, science, journalism, technology, art, education and many other good ideas
A search box is located on the right side of the navigation bar.
March 2021
|
