Genetically modified plants instead of light bulbs

Popular Science magazine notes that many living organisms on Earth glow, such as fungi, fish, and plankton. Scientists have previously attempted to “connect light” to plants themselves. In 2024, the biotech company Light Bro created a special type of petunia flower called “Firefly.” This was a major achievement in the field of genetically engineered glowing plants, but the petunia’s light was dim and only green.

According to Matter magazine, scientists from South China Agricultural University decided to advance further and succeeded in illuminating household succulent plants.

To achieve this, researchers reduced the phosphorus particle size to about 7 microns so that the particles could penetrate leaf tissues, and introduced these particles into several types of plants: pink-shaped succulents and non-succulents such as golden pothos and Chinese cabbage. The result was that only the succulents produced bright light, although researchers expected plants with more ventilated structures to glow better.

The narrow and uniform veins of succulent leaves helped distribute the particles more effectively. After “charging” the plants with sunlight or room light, they emitted light for up to two hours. To produce multicolored plants, scientists used different types of luminescent materials.

Fifty-six succulent plants were installed on a plant wall, and it turned out their bright light was enough to illuminate nearby objects.

Researchers noted that preparing each plant took about 10 minutes, and the entire process cost just over 10 yuan.

The team continues to study the long-term effects of these particles on plants, aiming to make this approach an alternative to outdoor lighting, and they are exploring the possibility of applying the technology to other plants. Scientists describe the integration of nanoparticles with the natural structure of plants as “almost magical.”