US EditionGlow-in-the-Dark Succulents that Recharge with Sunlight Could Pave Way to Plant-Based Lighting Systems
Researchers infused succulents with afterglow phosphor particles, enabling multicolor luminescence lasting up to two hours, offering a sustainable alternative for low-intensity lighting, study says.
- Researchers at South China Agricultural University reported in Matter on Aug. 27 producing the world's first multicolored luminescent succulents without altering DNA, framing it as a step toward sustainable lighting.
- Using particles sized about 7 micrometers, the team injected afterglow phosphor particles into Echeveria 'Mebina' succulents, whose leaf channels evenly distributed the glow-producing particles.
- Measurements showed the glow lasted up to 120 minutes with brightness 0.9–1 lux; a 56-succulent living wall produced candle-level light, and each plant costs 10 yuan.
- Researchers caution the glow is too faint to replace streetlights, noting plants capture under 2% of light and raising phosphor environmental and disposal concerns.
- The glowing-plant effort stretches back decades and now includes a patent bid; Light Bio's Firefly Petunia reached the US market last year, while authors plan to extend the technique beyond succulents.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Glow-in-the-dark succulents: night lights of the future
Glowing succulents. Credit: Liu et al., Matter Researchers have injected succulents with light-emitting compounds to produce multicolour luminescent plants for the first time. The work brings us a step closer to developing sustainable, plant-based lighting. “Picture the world of Avatar, where glowing plants light up an entire ecosystem,” says Shuting Liu of South China Agricultural University, first author of the study presenting the research in…
Living Nightlights: Scientists Turn Succulents Into Colorful Glowing Decor
Researchers in China have developed a method that allows succulent plants to glow for hours after a short exposure to light. The post Living Nightlights: Scientists Turn Succulents Into Colorful Glowing Decor appeared first on Study Finds.
Glow-in-the-dark succulents are here
Planet Earth hosts a bevy of bioluminescence, from shimmery blue anglerfish to Switzerland’s glowing green mushrooms. Now, scientists have created colorful glow-in-the-dark succulent plants. These succulents shine about as bright as a typical night light, and can recharge using sunlight. How the team from South China Agricultural University did it is detailed in a study published August 27 in the journal Matter. “Picture the world of Avatar, whe…
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