Chinese biotech startup Magicpen Bio has created plants that glow in the dark, per EuroNews.
By splicing genes from fireflies and bioluminescent mushrooms, they genetically engineered some 20 plant species, including lilies, orchids, and roses, to emit visible light, a technical feat that reportedly took ~532 rounds of iterations to achieve.
Amid climate change and rising demand for energy, Magicpen founder Li Renhan says glowing plants could one day provide an electricity-free, cost-efficient way to illuminate cities around the world.
Great points and things to think about.
Maybe the headline of the article is asking the wrong question and bioluminescent plants can supplement street lights to work with them. With solar-power charging the lights during the day and the addition of bioluminescence you could ideally save energy and still keep the night safely lit. It seem like interest in bioluminescence is only growing so it will be interesting to see how it advances and if it changes the ways people look at outdoor lighting.
This is a part of it too for me. I would love the idea of seeing more of the bioluminscence in park space scenes, third spaces, etc. Where community gather to be present with each other.
That definitely sounds like an ideal Lunarpunk future!