According to Reuters, instead of relying on artificial lights, MIT engineers have developed a bioluminescent plant that can glow on its own. By injecting special nanoparticles into the leaves of watercress, they were able to create a plant that glows for up to four hours. This breakthrough could one day lead to natural lighting solutions powered by plants themselves.
The key to this glowing effect lies in a biological enzyme called luciferase. When combined with a molecule known as fluorescein, luciferase triggers a chemical reaction that produces light. Another compound, CoA, helps sustain this reaction by removing a harmful by-product that would otherwise inhibit the enzyme’s activity.
To make the process work within a living plant, the MIT team packaged these components into nanocarriers. These nanoparticles help deliver the enzymes to the right locations inside the plant and prevent them from accumulating in harmful amounts. As a result, the watercress plant can emit a soft, steady glow—like a small table lamp.
The researchers believe that with further improvements, this technology could eventually provide enough light for indoor spaces or even outdoor areas like streets. Michael Strano, a professor at MIT, explained, “We want to use plants as a light source without plugging them in. The light should come from the energy the plant naturally produces.â€
He added, “This research opens up new possibilities for lighting systems that rely entirely on specially treated plants. Many bioluminescent species, including fireflies, use similar biochemical processes. In fireflies, luciferase converts luciferin into oxyluciferin, producing light with remarkable efficiency.â€
Lighting accounts for about 20% of global energy use, so using bioluminescent plants could significantly cut down on carbon emissions. Initially, the team could only make plants glow for 45 minutes, but now the duration has increased to 3.5 hours. A small watercress plant emits light that is just one-thousandth as bright as regular reading light, yet it’s still enough to illuminate text on a page.
The MIT team is working on optimizing the concentration and release rate of the chemicals to enhance both brightness and longevity. They also hope to develop methods to spray or print nanoparticles directly onto plant leaves, turning trees and other large plants into sustainable light sources.
In addition, the researchers found that they can turn off the glow by introducing nanoparticles carrying a luciferase inhibitor. This discovery could one day allow for smart plants that respond to environmental conditions, such as sunlight, and adjust their illumination accordingly.
Editor: Yan Zhixiang
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