Light-emitting plants may be used to replace Chinese street light in the future

Light-emitting plants may be used to replace Chinese street light in the future

  The vision of street or road will be illuminated by light-emitting tree instead of Chinese street light maybe come true in the future. The light-emitting plants has been created by MIT engineers through embed special nanobionics into plant and enable them to glow for about 4 hours.

  Approximately 20 percent energy consumption of lighting is on the bill of the total global energy consumption. If this vision comes true, a great deal of money will be saved on lighting. Also, Plants can self-repair, they have their own energy and they are already adapted to the outdoor environment. It is a perfect and ideal solution to address global energy problems.

  To achieve the effect of light-emitting plant, luciferase has been adopted by MIT team. It gives fireflies glow. Luciferase acts on a molecule called luciferin, causing it to emit light. Another molecule called co-enzyme A helps the process along by removing a reaction by product that can inhibit luciferase activity.

  Through further research of this technology, the researchers hope to open a new gate for getting more lights to illuminate the workplace and outdoor lighting including roads and streets instead of Chinese street light. Michael Strano from MIT point out that this technology can be used as a reading lamps without electricity, which powered by its plant own energy.

  If this technology can be applied in the future successfully, the carbon dioxide emission will be cut accordingly. The road and street can be illuminated by plant instead of Chinese street lamps, which will be more environment-friendly and the energy bill will eliminate largely.